Have you ever been considered for NHS-funded continuing healthcare?
Are you or a relative receiving NHS care services in a care home or your own home, for which you pay? Have you ever been considered for NHS-funded continuing healthcare? If not, you may be eligible for an assessment to determine whether you should receive NHS-funded continuing health care.
On 15th March 2012, the Department of Health announced the introduction of deadlines for individuals to request an assessment of eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare funding. The deadlines apply to previously un-assessed periods of care in the following time period: 1st April 2011 – 31st March 2012 – deadline for assessment requests is 31st March 2013.
Posters advertising the opportunity to request an assessment are also on display in GP practices and local libraries.
“NHS continuing healthcare” is the name given to a package of care arranged and funded by the NHS for people outside of hospital who have ongoing healthcare needs. People receiving continuing healthcare can be living in any setting including their own home or a care home.
NHS continuing healthcare is free, unlike help from social services for which a financial charge may be made, depending on your income and savings. In your own home, this means that the NHS will pay for healthcare (e.g. services provided by a community nurse or a specialist therapist) and personal care (e.g. help with bathing, dressing and laundry). In a care home, the NHS also pays for your care home fees including board and accommodation.
For further information on how to notify us of a request for assessment of eligibility, please contact:
NHS Western Cheshire’s Continuing Healthcare Team
telephone: 01244 650581
e-mail: wc-pct.adminchc@nhs.net
or write to:
Dispute Resolution Team,
Continuing Healthcare Team,
NHS Western Cheshire,
1829 Building, Countess of Chester Health Park,
Liverpool Road,
Chester,
CH2 1HJ.
Your notification should be given within the deadlines listed above. Some cases may be accepted after the dates outlined above if there are exceptional circumstances for doing so.