Deadline for NHS continuing care claims - 1 month to go
31 August 2012
NHS continuing care is a free package of care arranged and funded by the NHS.
A deadline to apply for NHS continuing care in England is fast
approaching. This affects anyone with Parkinson's who should have been assessed for
NHS continuing care but an assessment didn't take place.
If you should have been assessed between 1 April 2004 -
31 March 2011, but an assessment didn't take place at the
time you must notify the NHS by 30 September
2012.
Limited amount of time
In March 2012 the Department of Health in England issued 2
new deadlines about applying for NHS continuing care.
The deadlines do not apply to anyone who is
already receiving NHS continuing care, or has already applied for
it, or is going through a process of appeal. If this is you, or the
person you represent, you do not need to take any action. This is
only for people who feel they should have been assessed and have
not been.
The 2 deadlines
The deadlines to notify the NHS that you wish to make a claim
via your
local Primary Care Trusts NHS continuing care team are:
- 30 September 2012 if you should have been
assessed between 1 April 2004 - 31 March 2011
- 31 March 2013 if you should have been assessed
between 1 April 2011 - 31 March 2012
These rules only apply to people in England.
What is NHS continuing care?
NHS continuing care is a free package of care arranged and
funded by the NHS. It can be provided in residential homes,
hospital, hospices or in a person's own home.
The decision about whether or not someone receives the care is
not due to the condition a person has. It depends on whether your
need for care is primarily due to your need for healthcare. This is
often called a 'primary health need'.
There are
complex rules around what this means. Certain characteristics
of your needs, in combination or alone, may demonstrate a 'primary
health need' because of the quantity and/or quality of care
needed.
In England, the assessment is made by a team of health and
social care professionals, often based at the local Primary Care
Trust.
Sometimes people are assessed in hospital before they go home or
they may be assessed at home or in residential care. The person may
already receive care arranged by social services but they are
re-assessed when their health needs have increased.
NHS continuing care is free, unlike social care which is means
tested.
How do I make a claim?
People with Parkinson's have told us they find NHS continuing care assessments and proving their 'primary health need' very difficult.
All Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England have been told about
the change and are being asked to publicise the deadlines.
You must contact your
local PCTs NHS continuing care team to make a claim.
People with Parkinson's have told us they find NHS continuing
care assessments and proving their 'primary health need' very
difficult.
While we can't tell you if you might be entitled for NHS
continuing care, we can give you advice on what the rules are and
where to find them. We can also direct you to other sources of
advice, including legal advice if you think you have a strong case
for making a claim before the deadlines.
- email
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