NHS Continuing Healthcare: a guide for families

No. NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is based only on health needs. Income, savings, pensions and property do not affect whether someone qualifies, and if they are eligible the NHS pays for the agreed care in full. This is different from council-funded care, which is means-tested. Because the stakes are high, it's worth asking for a CHC checklist whenever someone's needs are complex, intense or unpredictable, especially before or after a hospital stay.

Yes. CHC can be provided at home as well as in a care home. If your loved one is eligible, the NHS pays for the care set out in their agreed care plan, which can include live-in care where the NHS agrees it meets their needs. They can also ask for a personal health budget, which can give the family more say over who provides care and how it's arranged. The care plan is reviewed regularly, usually after three months and then at least yearly.

Ask the GP, the hospital ward, the community nursing team or the council's adult social care team to complete a CHC checklist. The checklist is a short screening tool; if it suggests your loved one might be eligible, a full assessment by a multidisciplinary team follows, using the Decision Support Tool. You have the right to be involved in the assessment and to share your own observations, so keep notes of your loved one's care needs, day and night, in the weeks before.

The National Framework says a decision should normally be made within 28 days of the checklist being received by the integrated care board. In practice it can take longer, so it's worth asking for regular updates. Fast Track applications, for people whose condition is rapidly deteriorating and who may be nearing the end of life, are dealt with much more quickly so care can start without delay. If a decision is late or you disagree with it, you can ask for a review.

Not on its own. CHC eligibility depends on the overall nature, intensity, complexity and unpredictability of someone's needs, not on the diagnosis. Someone with advanced dementia who has, for example, severe behavioural needs, difficulty swallowing and frequent falls may qualify, while someone at an earlier stage usually will not. If your loved one's needs increase, you can ask for a new checklist at any time.

Yes. Many families pay privately for live-in care while the CHC assessment takes place, so their loved one isn't left without support. If CHC is later agreed, funding usually starts from the date of the decision, so keep records of the care provided and any costs. Our introductory live-in care has no long contracts, so it's straightforward to change the arrangement once a funding decision is made.