NHS Continuing Healthcare is a package of care for individuals with severe, complex and ongoing needs that is funded entirely by the NHS. This package of care is available throughout the country and the checklist of requirements to be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare are set at a national level.
The care itself is delivered locally and the eligibility assessment will be made by the Hertfordshire & West Essex integrated care board.
As NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding is such a comprehensive financial package of care, the assessment process is rigorous and can take a long time, so it’s worth setting things in motion as soon as possible.
Additional support is available with your relative’s application from organisations such as Beacon. They can provide you with personalised advice and assist with some of the practical elements in your relative’s application. You can get in touch with the free Beacon NHS Continuing Healthcare Information and Advice Service on 0345 548 0300.
On this page you can find out everything you need to know about the process of applying for NHS Continuing Healthcare in Hertfordshire. If you want a more detailed overview of NHS Continuing Healthcare, you may be interested in our Guide to NHS Funded Care.
How to Apply for NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding in Hertfordshire
NHS Continuing Healthcare in Hertfordshire is provided by the Hertfordshire & West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICS). The person that would be receiving the funding must be registered with a GP within the ICS.
The process of applying for NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding in Hertfordshire begins with an initial screening carried out by a medical professional. The professional carrying out this screening may then arrange a multidisciplinary assessment to determine whether or not your relative is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding in Hertfordshire.
Initial Screening
The initial screening of your relative’s eligibility involves a medical professional going through the NHS Continuing Healthcare Checklist with them. The medical professional involved will usually already be involved in your relative’s care, for example their GP or nurse.
The NHS Continuing Healthcare Checklist is available for you and your relative to read online ahead of time, but you cannot carry out the initial assessment yourself. Only if the medical professional carrying out the initial assessment thinks that your relative may be eligible for continuing healthcare funding from the NHS, will a referral be made for a multidisciplinary assessment. They will help you to get in touch with your relative’s local Hertfordshire ICS.
Multidisciplinary Assessment
The multidisciplinary assessment is the second stage for determining if your relative is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare in Hertfordshire. This assessment is made by a range of medical professionals, including both healthcare and social care professionals, from your relative’s local ICS.
When carrying out the assessment, they will be considering the nature, complexity, intensity and unpredictability of your relative’s needs. If your relative is assessed as having at least one ‘priority need’, or two ‘severe needs’, they can expect to be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare in Hertfordshire. A more comprehensive breakdown of the type and nature of needs that they are considered during this multidisciplinary assessment can be found from the NHS website.
