Continuing Healthcare Alliance

We work together to investigate what's wrong with the current continuing healthcare system.

We work with local decision makers to recognise the importance of improving continuing healthcare.

And we don't want anyone left without the support they so desperately need.

NHS continuing healthcare – also known as NHS continuing care or NHS CHC – is free healthcare provided outside of hospital that is arranged and funded by the NHS.

It may include paying for care costs typically funded by a local authority under the banner of social care, such as fees for a care home, but where these arise due to a specific health need.

When delivered effectively, it can enable people to go on living as full a life as possible. It can also have the benefit of reducing anxiety and minimising pressure on family and friends.

• Age UK
• Alzheimer's Society
• Beacon
• The British Polio Fellowship
• Carers Trust
• Dementia UK
• Learning Disability England
• Marie Curie
• MS Society
• Motor Neurone Disease Association
• Multiple System Atrophy Trust
• The Neurological Alliance 
• Parkinson's UK
• Patients Association
• PSP Association (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy – CBD)
• Spinal Injuries Association
• Stroke Association
• Sue Ryder
• VoiceAbility

Since its introduction, the application and assessment process for NHS continuing healthcare has been incredibly complex.

Many people told us they had to become overnight experts in a daunting and complicated system.

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In the dark: the provision of information and advice (pdf, 260KB)

Despite there being clear guidelines in place about how long this process should take, people are often left waiting long periods with little communication on the progress of their application.

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Why are we waiting? The delays experienced by people applying (pdf, 550KB)

To improve something, we need to know what's wrong.

But it's hard to prove what's wrong with NHS continuing healthcare as so little data is collected.

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Filling in the blanks: improving the data that is gathered (pdf, 32KB)

It's essential that knowledgeable teams of qualified health and social care professionals lead the assessments on continuing healthcare.

They know the person, and in-depth information on their condition, and can involve the patient, their friends and family in the process.

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Leave it to the experts: how professionals conduct the assessments (pdf, 180KB)

The decision support tool is used by professionals to help decide whether someone qualifies for NHS continuing healthcare.

We do not believe it is fit for purpose.

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Dysfunctional decisions: how the Decision Support Tool is used (pdf, 130KB)

As so many decisions regarding NHS continuing healthcare are made at a local level, people across the country have very different experiences and outcomes.

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Never the same: the lack of consistency and consequences (pdf, 270KB)

It's unacceptable that people are continually reassessed despite many people assessed for continuing healthcare having long-term, progressive conditions.

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Say that again: the impact of regular reassessments (pdf, 460KB)

Once someone has been awarded NHS continuing healthcare, the Clinical Commissioning Group is required to commission a package of care.

An area of concern is the lack of suitable care packages put in place once eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare has been granted.

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Who cares and how much? The provision of care (pdf, 230KB)

Appealing a decision about NHS continuing healthcare can be time consuming, complex and distressing.

Often people can wait months and even years.

During that time, it is likely that individuals are paying for care unnecessarily and also engaging solicitors to support them through the process.

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Righting the wrongs: the appeal process (pdf, 140KB)