How Much Is Continuing Healthcare Funding?
Here are some key details on NHS continuing healthcare funding in the UK:
The NHS provides full funding for all assessed care and support needs for those eligible for continuing healthcare. This means only a very minimal contribution or none at all from the individual.
There are no fixed limits or caps on how much funding someone can receive. It depends entirely on the individual’s assessed needs. Funding covers hospital stays, nursing home care, specialized equipment, home care, etc.
On average, continuing healthcare is estimated to cost from £700 to £1,000 per week per person currently. However, this varies widely case-by-case. Some may only require a few hundred pounds if care needs are relatively limited. Others with very complex needs could receive several thousand.
Continuing healthcare funding comes from the local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) annual NHS budgets. The CCGs allocate funding to support those who qualify in their regions. National NHS England budgets also help provide funding consistency across areas.
Compared to basic social services or nursing care, continuing healthcare provides significantly more support since more health care professionals are involved and the care is typically 1-to-1 round-the-clock for those with intense needs.
Ongoing reviews happen over time. Funding may be reduced if care needs decrease due to health improvements. But funding also adapts to increasing needs if one’s condition declines. The focus is covering assessed care requirements.
So in summary, continuing healthcare funding covers all nursing and palliative care costs for those deemed eligible by NHS assessment teams. There are no standard funding limit amounts. The goal is supporting an individual’s total care needs.
What Medical Conditions Qualify For Continuing Healthcare
There are a wide range of medical conditions that can potentially qualify someone for continuing healthcare funding in the UK. This overview covers key condition types, complex diagnoses, assessment factors, and more.
Neurological Conditions
– Brain injuries, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, and Huntington’s disease are common neurological conditions that may meet eligibility criteria.
– Both the diagnosis itself and the associated care needs it creates are considered during assessments.
Respiratory Conditions
– Severe respiratory conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, or pulmonary fibrosis often qualify based on intense symptom management needs.
– Help with breathing, oxygen use, medication routines, and more all play major roles for those with respiratory conditions.
Cardiovascular Conditions
– Heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, unstable angina, and critical peripheral vascular disease are cardiovascular conditions that can qualify.
– Support needs like IV medications, oxygen, stenosis care, and addressing severe symptoms are considered.
Cancer And Palliative Care
– Those with cancers requiring complex symptom management and end-of-life care tend to meet continuing healthcare criteria.
– The focus is primarily on one’s total palliative care needs rather than the cancer diagnosis itself.
Stroke And Brain Injury Effects
– Strokes, brain injuries, and other trauma with neurological effects often qualify based on impacts to mobility, communication, nutrition, and cognition.
– The number of care-based problem areas is more influential than any specific diagnosis.
Progressive Conditions
– Neurodegenerative diseases, advanced heart failure, COPD, Parkinson’s, dementia, and more can qualify due to increasing needs.
– It’s based on managing the total care needs as the conditions gradually worsen over longer periods.
Multiple Interlinking Conditions
– Co-morbidities with overlapping care requirements, such as dementia combined with diabetes or immobility issues, often meet eligibility thresholds.
– Having multiple conditions leading to high total needs frequently leads to continuing healthcare.