NHS Continuing Healthcare funding has been described as the ‘NHS’ best kept secret’. A staggering 60% of people surveyed by the Continuing Healthcare Alliance, a group of 13 organisations who believe NHS continuing healthcare needs to improve, did not know about the existence of the funding until very late in their dealings with the health and social care system.
All too often the experience of applying for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding can be a distressing one for patients or their families due to the lack of clear, helpful information and support from their health and social care teams as 65% of the Alliance survey respondents ascertained. Indeed, the Alliance state that “all too often people slip into that void where no one gives them the advice they need” (page 6, CHC Alliance ‘Continuing to Care Report’).
Unfortunately, the lack of signposting from health and social care professionals (unbelievably, only 3% of people in the CHC Alliance report had found out about the possibility of funding from their GP) means countless individuals may be wrongly paying for their healthcare and facing a worrying financial future as these care costs continue to pile up. Even more worryingly, the Alliance report that only 15% were informed by their hospital doctor or nurse before discharge.
Significantly the report also highlighted that 39% of NHS professionals (social workers, GPs, hospital doctors and nurses) found the assessment process was too complicated – when the system is too complex even for the NHS professionals to understand, it is easy to see why patients aren’t receiving information or assistance in a timely manner.
To recap, NHS Continuing Healthcare is a free package of support and care provided by the NHS to individuals who have significant healthcare needs; this need must be assessed as complex, substantial and ongoing.
NHS Continuing Healthcare can be received in any setting outside of hospital, including care homes, hospices or even within your own home. An individual’s health needs, not their location, is the key factor to receiving continuing healthcare funding.
It doesn’t matter what your income is, or what savings you have, if you meet the criteria, you’re entitled to free NHS CHC funding. NHS Continuing Healthcare funding is not means tested, and it can cover up to 100% of care costs.
Having an expert on your side matters. With 78% of NHS professionals reporting that the NHS CHC process is ‘difficult or very difficult’ for patients and their families to understand (CHC Alliance ‘Continuing to Care Report’), it is understandable that so many patients turn to industry experts like Compass CHC for help.
Learn more: Is NHS Continuing Healthcare funding means tested?
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