Continuing Healthcare

This information is about Continuing Health Care (CHC) provision for people over the age of 18 years. This can be divided in to three distinct areas: Continuing Healthcare, Funded Nursing Care and Fast Track.

What is NHS Continuing Healthcare?

NHS continuing health care is care provided to a person to meet their significant health needs. The person is likely to have complex physical or mental health needs as a result of disability, accident or illness.

CHC is funded solely by the NHS and is free for people who are assessed as eligible. This is unlike social care services for which a there may be a charge, depending on income and savings.

Care arranged as part of NHS Continuing Healthcare can be provided in a variety of different settings, including care homes and at home. This care will be reviewed and updated if required. Eligibility may also be reviewed in line with Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) guidance on CHC.

Further information can be found on the DHSC website 

Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group operates an Equity & Choice Policy in relation to all CHC and Fast Track funded packages of care. This policy applies to packages of care at home and in a care home setting. 

Who is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding?

A screening process is started using a checklist. If this is positive a full assessment of eligibility will take place. The assessment determines if the person has a primary health need and takes account of factors such as nature, complexity, intensity and unpredictability.

Eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare is not dependent on a particular disease, diagnosis or condition.

A health care professional makes the initial referral to the Continuing Healthcare team and may remain involved in the assessment process.

More information can be found on the DHSC website link above.

If you do not qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare,  you may have to pay for some or all of your care, although the NHS will still provide for your medical needs. You may also have to take a local authority means test to decide how much you should pay towards your personal care and accommodation if you are in a care home.

Who to contact for further information and request an assessment of eligibility?

Patients, relatives, carers and representatives can contact the Oxfordshire Continuing Healthcare Team on 01235 904519 for further information on how to request an assessment of eligibility.

Address: Admin Block, Abingdon Hospital, Marcham Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1AG

Funded Nursing Care 

NHS Funded Nursing Care is care provided by a registered nurse for people who live in a care home. The NHS will pay a flat rate contribution directly to the care home towards the cost of this registered nursing care.

Who is eligible for NHS Funded Nursing Care?

You may be eligible if:

  • You are not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare but have been assessed as needing care from a registered nurse, and
  • You live in a care home registered to provide nursing care and you have been assessed as requiring this setting of care.

How will my needs be assessed?

You should be assessed for NHS Continuing Healthcare before a decision is made about whether you are eligible for NHS Funded Nursing Care.

Most people do not need a separate assessment. However, if you do need an assessment or you have not already had one, Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group has established a process that will ensure an assessment is arranged for you.

Outcome of the assessment

If you are eligible for NHS Funded Nursing Care, the NHS will arrange and fund nursing care provided by registered nurses employed by the care home. Services provided by a registered nurse can include planning, supervising and monitoring nursing and healthcare tasks, as well as direct nursing care.

If you are assessed as not eligible for NHS Funded Nursing Care and you do not agree with the decision about your eligibility, you can ask for a review of the decision.

What is the rate of payment for NHS Funded Nursing Care?

NHS Funded Nursing Care is a flat rate across England. For 2019/20, the rate is £165.56 per week.

Who to contact for further information

Speak to your care home manager in the first instance or if you not yet in a care home speak to your care manager who organises your care. Further Information can also be obtained from the CHC team. Contact details are below.

Oxfordshire Continuing Healthcare Team on 01235 904519

Address: Admin Block, Abingdon Hospital, Marcham Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1AG

Fast Track

People with a rapidly deteriorating condition who may be entering the end of life phase of their illness, may need ‘fast tracking’ for immediate provision of NHS Continuing Healthcare.

The Fast Track tool ensures these patients are supported wherever possible in their preferred place of care as quickly as possible.

A CHC Fast Track form will need to be completed by a clinician who is involved in the care of the patient to make a referral to the Continuing Healthcare team. These arrangements will be subject to reviews.

CHC team contact details

Patients, relatives, carers and representatives can contact the Oxfordshire Continuing Healthcare Team below:

Address: Admin Block, Abingdon Hospital, Marcham Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1AG

For more information on Fast Track, see the Department of Health's National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS funded Nursing Care