The Continuing Healthcare and NHS Funded Care Team are a statutory serviced based with the Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB).
NHS continuing healthcare is the name given to a package of care which is arranged and funded solely by the NHS for individuals outside of hospital who have significant health care needs, rather than social or personal needs. NHS continuing healthcare can be received in your own home or in a care home. NHS continuing healthcare is provided free unlike support provided by local authorities which is means tested.
Who is eligible?
Anyone over the age of 18 who has been assessed as having a certain level of care needs may be entitled to NHS continuing healthcare. It is not dependent on a particular disease, diagnosis or condition, nor on who provides the care or where that care is provided. If your overall assessment of care needs show that you have a 'primary health need', you should be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare. Once eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, you care will be funded by the NHS. This is however, subject to regular reviews and should your care needs change, the funding arrangements may also change. It is not a lifelong eligibility.
Assessment
The initial assessment will be a Checklist, but this will not indicate eligibility, just a need for a further, in-depth assessment. A nurse, doctor, other qualified healthcare professional or social care professional can complete the Checklist to refer individuals for a full assessment of eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare from either a community or hospital (Checklist should not be completed until the individual's needs on discharge are clear) setting.