Continuing healthcare is care arranged and funded solely by the NHS. It is for people who have ongoing and complex healthcare needs.
You can receive continuing healthcare outside of hospital, such as in your own home or a care home. It is free of charge and you will not be asked to pay any contribution towards your care.
Who is eligible?
You may be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare if you are over 18 and assessed as having a high level of care and support needs.
Continuing healthcare assessments
You need to have an initial checklist assessment by a nurse, doctor, other healthcare professional or a social worker. If this shows that you may be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, you will get a full assessment from a specialist team from your local NHS clinical commissioning group (CCG).
GOV.UK has guidance on the national framework for NHS continuing healthcare and NHS funded nursing, which includes the initial checklist assessment and decision support tool.
If you are not eligible for NHS continuing healthcare but assessed as needing care from a registered nurse, you may be eligible for NHS-funded nursing care.
NHS-funded nursing care
NHS-funded nursing care is for people who are not eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, and live in a care home.
The NHS pays the care home for the cost of the registered nursing care.
The same assessment for NHS continuing healthcare will decide if you are eligible for NHS-funded nursing care.