NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding – Important Reminder

NHS South Essex are reminding their patients and/or their representatives of the new deadlines for requesting assessment of eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding, during the period April 1 2004 – March 31 2012. The deadlines apply to previously un-assessed periods of care, as follows:

Period Deadline
1 April 2004 – 30 September 2007 30 September 2012
1 October 2007 – 31 March 2011 30 September 2012
1 April 2011 – 31 March 2012 31 March 2013

Individuals or their representatives should notify us in respect of previously un-assessed periods of time, where there is evidence that they should have been assessed for eligibility for NHS CHC funding.

What is NHS Continuing Healthcare?

NHS continuing healthcare’ is a package of continuing care provided over an extended period of time to a person aged 18 or over, to meet significant and complex physical or mental health needs.

NHS continuing healthcare is arranged, provided and funded solely by the NHS. It is free for those who are eligible, unlike help from social services for which a charge may be incurred depending on income and savings.

Care arranged as part of NHS continuing healthcare can be provided in a variety of different settings including; care homes, hospices or an individual’s home.

Who is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding?

Eligibility is determined by a detailed assessment which looks at all of aspects of care needs, including:

  • the nature – the type of condition or treatment required
  • complexity – symptoms that interact; therefore difficult to manage or control
  • intensity – one or more health needs so severe they require regular ntervention
  • unpredictability – unexpected changes in condition that are difficult to manage and present a risk to you, or to others.

If you require further information or wish to make a request for an assessment of eligibility, please contact: Jan Crozier, NHS Continuing Healthcare Senior Clinical Lead at NHS South Essex cluster, on telephone: 01268 448515.

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