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NHS Continuing Health Care

NHS continuing healthcare is care outside of hospital that is arranged and funded by the NHS. It is only available for people (over 18 years old, for those under 18 years please see NHS continuing care for Children) who need on-going healthcare and meet the eligibility criteria described below. NHS continuing healthcare is sometimes called fully funded NHS care.

Where is care provided?

NHS continuing healthcare can be provided in any setting, including a care home, hospice or the home of the person you look after. If someone in a care home gets NHS continuing healthcare, it will cover their care home fees, including the cost of accommodation, personal care and healthcare costs.

If NHS continuing healthcare is provided in the home of the person you look after, it will cover personal care, social care and healthcare costs.

Eligibility

To be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, the person you look after must be assessed as having a "primary health need" and have a complex medical condition and substantial and on-going care needs.

Not everyone with a disability or long-term condition will be eligible.   A decision about eligibility should usually be made within 28 days of an assessment being carried out.

For more information on NHS continuing healthcare assessments and eligibility, disputes, refunds and NHS-funded nursing care please look here:  http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/guide/practicalsupport/Pages/NHSContinuingCare.aspx

NHS Choice Framework - what choices are available to you in your NHS care - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)