NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) is a package of care for individuals aged 18 years and over who are not in hospital and have been assessed as having a primary health need, as a result of disability, accident or illness.
People who are assessed for NHS CHC include those who need a very high level of support. Some people may be reaching the end of their lives or have long-term conditions.
When someone is assessed as eligible for NHS CHC, NHS Birmingham and Solihull is responsible for funding their full package of health and social care.
This means that NHS Birmingham and Solihull will source suitable care to meet someone’s assessed needs. NHS Birmingham and Solihull will always try to meet the patient and family’s preference for the type and place of care provided and where possible will give options and choices that best match what people and their carers want.
An organisation named Beacon offers support to individuals and their families in England who need help navigating the NHS continuing healthcare process. Visit the Beacon website to learn more, and visit our eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare
page for further sources of information, advice and advocacy.
There is a national framework which states that eligibility should be based on someone’s healthcare needs and not their diagnosis. It’s not linked to savings or income.
Many people who are assessed for NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) are reaching the end of their lives or face a long-term condition, because of a disability, accident, or illness. They can have a wide range of healthcare conditions and may receive funding for just a few weeks or many years.
People who may be assessed as eligible for NHS CHC include:
- People near the end of their lives.
- They may have conditions like advanced cancer or heart disease or be a frail elderly person with a rapidly deteriorating condition and entering a terminal phase of their lives. Typically, people near the end of their lives will receive care for weeks or a few months.
- Frail elderly people with complex physical or psychological needs
- This could include frail elderly people with conditions such as dementia, weight loss, lack of mobility or Parkinson’s disease.
- Care can often be provided for several years subject to an annual assessment.
- People, aged 18 and over, with long term healthcare needs
- This could include people who have had an accident that has left them with long-term health care needs, such as spinal injury. It may also include people with long-term conditions such as multiple sclerosis. People will often receive care for many years and their eligibility for NHS CHC may change as their needs change.
Completing the NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) checklist does not indicate that someone may be eligible for NHS CHC and less than one in three of those who pass the initial screening will be assessed ineligible. To find out more about NHS CHC, please visit the NHS England website.
NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) can be provided by the NHS in any setting, including a care home or at home.
If NHS CHC is provided in a care home, it will cover the care home fees, including the cost of accommodation, personal care, and healthcare costs.
If NHS CHC is provided in the person’s home, it will cover personal care and healthcare costs.
Those in receipt of NHS CHC continue to be entitled to access to the full range of health services, e.g. at their GP practice, in hospital or via district nursing.
Support can also be accessed via a personal health budget. Please visit the NHS England website to learn about personal health budgets.
If you are assessed as eligible for NHS continuing healthcare (CHC), please be aware that it is subject to review and if your care needs change the funding arrangement may also change.
Your eligibility for NHS CHC will be reviewed regularly. If you are not eligible at assessment, you may become eligible if your needs change over time.
If a patient or their carer is unhappy with the outcome of their assessment, they can ask the ICB to review their case.
