If a person’s medical condition is unpredictable and/or unstable and they need constant 24 hour acute or specialist nursing care, they may be entitled to NHS Continuing Healthcare. NHS Continuing Healthcare will cover all the costs of your care, including accommodation if you need to be in a care or nursing home. The eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare is based on the individual having a “Primary Health Need”. In order to determine whether an individual has a primary health need, a detailed assessment and decision-making process must be followed, as set out in the National Framework. Where an individual has a primary health need and is therefore eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, the NHS is responsible for commissioning a care package that meets the individual’s health and associated social care needs. A primary health need is not about the reason why someone requires care or support, nor is it based on a diagnosis; it is about the level and type of actual day-to-day care required and it is the nature and intensity of these needs that must be considered when determining eligibility for NHS CHC. The first step is the completion of a Checklist. The Checklist is a screening tool and the first stage of the NHS CHC funding assessment process. It is intended to be relatively quick and straightforward, so it is not necessary to provide detailed evidence along with the completed Checklist. A positive outcome in the Checklist does not mean the individual is automatically eligible for NHS CHC funding; it simply means that they progress to stage two. Stage two involves a multidisciplinary team (MDT) and the use of the Decision Support Tool (DST). This stage is often known as the ‘full assessment’ and it is much more involved.

Well only sometimes. Firstly, if you don’t already, you’ll need to understand the difference between ‘social’ and ‘health’ care. Social care is best described as care needed to help with activities of daily living (washing, eating, mobility etc). It is the responsibility of your local authority who will assess the needs you have, and they will also assess how much you are able to pay towards the care you need. If someone in need of social care owns a house or has much in the way of savings, the chances are they’ll have to pay for all or at least some of their social care. On the other hand, health care is where your needs are of a medical nature, and this is the responsibility of the NHS. So, if your need is for health care, this is currently free at the point of need.