Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

What is Continuing Health Care?

NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) is a package of care provided outside of hospital. It is arranged and funded by Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) for people aged 18 years and over who have significant ongoing healthcare needs and have been assessed as having a ‘primary health need’.

People who are assessed for CHC include those who need a very high level of support. Some people may be reaching the end of their lives, or have long-term conditions as a result of a disability, accident or illness. When someone is assessed as eligible for CHC, their local ICB is responsible for funding their full package of health and social care.

This means that the ICB will find suitable care to meet someone’s assessed needs. The ICB will always try to give options and choices that best match the patient and family’s preferences for the type and place of care provided.

Who is eligible for NHS continuing healthcare?

 For example someone eligible:

• Could have long-term conditions due to a disability, illness or accident
• Or could be reaching the end of their lives

The ICB will find the most suitable care package to meet your assessed needs in any setting, such:

• In your own home: services from a community nurse and personal care, such as help with bathing and dressing.
• In a care home: as well as healthcare and personal care, the NHS will pay for your care home fees, including board and accommodation.

How is continuing healthcare assessed?

In order to receive NHS CHC funding, individuals have to be assessed by North Central London ICB according to a legally prescribed decision-making process to determine whether the individual has a ‘primary health need’.

If you would like to have a continuing healthcare assessment for yourself, a family member or for a person you care for, you can speak to:

• Your social worker (if applicable)
• A member of the clinical team involved in your care

If you have been assessed for continuing healthcare and are unsatisfied with the outcome of the assessment, you can appeal by email – nclicb.chcappeals@nhs.net

Please see our appeals policy with further details about our local appeals process by clicking here.

On occasion, our Local Authority partners may dispute the ICB’s decision following an assessment. To ensure that these disputes are processed fairly and with due consideration, we have developed a dispute policy, agreed with all 5 of our NCL local authority boroughs. A copy of our policy can be accessed by clicking here.

If you are a Continuing Healthcare client funded by North Central London ICB and you have a query about your care provider you should contact your named nurse.

If you require further information or support with your package of care then please email the Complex Individualised Commissioning team on nclicb.cicchccommissioning@nhs.net

Barnet, Camden and Enfield CHC Team

Haringey CHC Team

Islington CHC Team

Links