What is NHS Continuing Healthcare?
If you need personal care as a result of your impairment or condition there are 2 main sources of statutory funding, Social Services and the NHS (through your local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)). NHS Continuing Healthcare is the name given to the funding provided by the NHS.
There are a number of differences between Social Services and NHS funding, but probably the two most significant are that:
• NHS Continuing Healthcare funding is not means tested. Therefore you will not have to make a contribution towards the cost of your care.
• NHS Continuing Healthcare funding is given as a Personal Health Budget (the NHS equivalent of a Direct Payment/Individual Budget). As from April 2014 people who are eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, have a right to ask for a personal health budgets and a right to have a budget from October 2014.
At the centre of your personal health budget is your care and support plan. This plan helps you decide your health and wellbeing goals, together with the local NHS team who support you, and set out how your budget will be spent to enable you to reach them and keep healthy and safe.
Key points:
• The NHS stands by its promise that it is there for everyone, based on need not ability to pay.
• The NHS care and support you get should be safe and effective. It should be a positive experience.
• Personal health budgets should help people who may not always get the best out of the NHS to get a better service, not make things worse.
• You will not have to get healthcare in this way if you do not want to.
• You should have as much control over decisions as you want.
If you are thinking about applying for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding or a Personal Health Budget then please give me a ring before you do and I will give you 10 minutes of advice about applying.
