NHS continuing healthcare is a package of continuing care provided outside hospital, arranged and funded solely by the NHS, for people with ongoing healthcare needs.
What is NHS continuing healthcare?
NHS continuing healthcare is the name given to a package of care that is arranged and funded solely by the NHS for individuals outside of hospital who have a "primary health need".
Who is eligible for NHS continuing healthcare?
Anyone assessed as having a certain level of care needs may receive NHS continuing healthcare. It is not dependent on a particular disease, diagnosis or condition, nor on who provides the care or where that care is provided.
Your eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare depends on your assessed needs, if your needs change then your eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare may change.
To be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, you must be assessed by a team of healthcare professionals (a "multi-disciplinary team") as having a "primary health need". Whether or not someone has a primary health need is assessed by looking at all their care needs and relating them to:
What help is needed?
how complex or complicated these needs are?
how intense or severe these needs can be?
how unpredictable they are, including any risks to the person's health if the right care isn't provided at the right time?
Eligibility criteria for continuing healthcare is defined by NHS England.
You should be involved in the assessment process and kept informed, and have your views about your needs and support taken into account. Carers and family members should also be consulted where appropriate. A decision about eligibility should usually be made within 28 days of it being decided that the person needs a full assessment for NHS continuing healthcare.
After your assessment
You will be notified in writing of the outcome of your assessment. If you are not eligible, the reasons will be explained in the letter.
You will also be given details of how to appeal if you feel the decision is wrong. Find out more about how to appeal and the local resolution process.
The professional who referred you will also be informed of the outcome of your assessment.
Care and support planning
If you are eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, the next stage is to arrange a care and support package which meets your assessed needs.
Depending on your situation, different options could be suitable. The continuing healthcare team will consider your views when agreeing your care and support package and the setting where it will be provided, and factors such as the safety, quality, cost and value for money of different options will be taken into account.
If you are eligible, you will be offered a personal health budget. You will receive more information and details at this stage to help you make the decision on whether you want a personal health budget or not. Find out more here
If you are eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, your needs and support package will normally be reviewed within three months and thereafter at least annually. This review will consider whether your existing care and support package meets your assessed needs and will also consider whether you are still eligible for NHS continuing healthcare.
As the national policy framework is quite long and complicated, the Department of Health offers some public information on NHS continuing healthcare.
You can find this information here