NHS continuing healthcare is care arranged and funded by the NHS for those with ongoing and complex healthcare needs.
You can receive it outside of hospital, such as in your own home or a care home.
It’s free of charge and you will not be asked to pay a contribution.
Eligibility
You may be eligible if you’re over 18 and assessed as having a high level of care and support needs.
You need to have an initial checklist assessment by a nurse, doctor, other healthcare professional or a social worker.
If this shows you could be eligible, you’ll get a full assessment from a specialist team from your local NHS integrated care system.
If you cannot get NHS continuing healthcare but are assessed as needing care from a registered nurse, you may be able to get NHS-funded nursing care. This is for people who cannot get 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 can get NHS-funded nursing care.
GOV.UK has guidance on the national framework for NHS continuing healthcare and NHS funded nursing. It includes the initial checklist assessment and decision support tool.