National Audit Office publishes findings on NHS continuing healthcare

Tue,4 July 2017
News Health & Social Care

NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) is a package of care provided outside of hospital that is arranged and funded solely by the NHS for individuals who have significant ongoing health care needs. 

In 2015-16, almost 160,000 people received, or were assessed as eligible for, CHC funding in the year, at a cost of £3.1 billion. If someone is assessed as not eligible for CHC funding, they may still be entitled to other health and social care services, some of which the individual may have to pay for.

Key findings of the investigation include:

  • NHS England recognises that the current assessment process for CHC funding raises people’s expectations about whether they will receive funding and does not make best use of assessment staff.
  • In most cases eligibility decisions should be made within 28 days but many people are waiting longer.
  • Decisions on eligibility for CHC have a significant financial impact on the individual, clinical commissioning group (CCG) and local authority.
  • The number of people receiving CHC funding is rising and the funding of CHC is a significant cost pressure on CCGs’ spending.
  • There is significant variation between CCGs in both the number and proportion of people assessed as eligible for CHC
  • There are limited assurance processes in place to ensure that eligibility decisions are consistent, both between and within CCGs.