NHS Continuing Healthcare
Torbay and South Devon Continuing Healthcare Team
Sherborne House
Kingsteignton Road
Newton Abbot
TQ12 2PF
The Torbay and South Devon Team cover the following areas: Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, Newton Abbot, Bovey Tracey, Buckfastleigh, Chudleigh, Dartmouth, Totnes, Dawlish, Teignmouth and surrounding areas.
To request a Continuing Healthcare assessment or to discuss a NHS Continuing Healthcare eligibility decision, please contact our Continuing Healthcare Team:
Tel: 01626 357820
Email: Continuing Healthcare Team
Or write to us at the address above.
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust deliver the NHS Continuing Healthcare service on behalf of NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB).
What is NHS Continuing Healthcare?
NHS Continuing Healthcare means a package of ongoing care that is arranged and funded solely by the National Health Service (NHS) specifically for the relatively small number of individuals (with high levels of need) who are found to have a ‘primary health need’. Such care is provided to an individual aged 18 or over to meet health and associated social care needs that have arisen as a result of disability, accident or illness.
Who is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare?
People over 18 years of age who have been assessed as having a ’primary health need’ are entitled to NHS Continuing Healthcare. Eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare is not dependent on a particular disease, diagnosis or condition, nor on who provides the care or where that care is provided.
Consent and authority to act
Before we can undertake the Continuing Healthcare assessment we have to gain your consent to access your health and social care records. If you are a family member or representative acting on behalf of an individual, we will also need to establish that you have the authority to act on the patient’s behalf.
How do you become eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare?
The first step in the assessment process for most individuals is screening using the Checklist Tool. The Checklist does not indicate whether you are eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, only whether you require a full assessment of eligibility.
If the checklist indicates that further consideration is required a full assessment on your health needs will be undertaken. The information from this assessment will inform the completion of a Decision Support Tool. This tool is designed to ensure that all factors that have a bearing on an individual’s eligibility are taken into account.
The consideration for eligibility will be undertaken by a multidisciplinary team. This is a team of people who have different roles related to an individual’s care. With permission, the assessment will include contributions from all the health and social care professionals involved in an individual’s care, to build an overall picture of their needs. In some cases, more detailed specialist assessments may be required from these professionals.
The decision will be notified to the individual or nominated representative in writing.
Where is NHS Continuing Healthcare provided?
If you are eligible, you can receive NHS Continuing Healthcare in any setting, for example:
- In your own home – the NHS will pay for healthcare, such as services from a community nurse or specialist therapist, as well as personal care, such as help with bathing, dressing and laundry.
- In a care home – as well as healthcare and personal care, the NHS will pay for your care home fees, including board and accommodation.
NHS Continuing Healthcare is free, unlike social and community care services provided by local authorities for which a charge may be made, depending on your income and savings.
What if my care needs change?
Your eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare will be reviewed regularly. If your care needs change, the funding arrangements may also change.
Appeals
When a decision is sent to the client or representative, details of how to request an appeal are provided.
Appeal reasons should be submitted within six months of the date of the decision letter. The Continuing Healthcare team can support you with making an appeal and are happy to meet with you to discuss the Decision Support Tool domains, the level of need agreed and the rationale for the decision. The appeal information page details the appeal process for current assessments. The appeal process for previously unassessed periods of care is provided with the decision letter.
If you are unhappy with any part of the process relating to your Continuing Healthcare process please contact:
The Continuing Healthcare Team
Tel: 01626 357820
Email: Continuing Healthcare Team
Or write to us at the address above.
If they are unable to resolve your concerns they will signpost you to the Feedback and Engagement Team where you can raise a formal complaint.
Previously unassessed periods of care
There may be circumstances where an individual not previously assessed for NHS CHC funding believes that they should have been. In these circumstances, the appropriate individual can complete an application for consideration of an unassessed period of care of the individual’s care needs and eligibility for NHS CHC Funding. The Department of Health advertised the close down period of 1 April 2004 – 31 March 2012. Therefore, applications for consideration of unassessed periods of care can only be made from 1 April 2012. Individuals should contact the CHC team if they wish to request a retrospective review.
Advocacy and support
If you require assistance or advice relating to the process, the following organisations can offer support:
- Healthwatch
- Age UK
- Devon Advocacy Consortium – can provide you with support if you wish to make a complaint regarding the Continuing Healthcare process