Yes, you can. There are three stages to a CHC appeal: 1. ICB Local Resolution: The first stage (a formal review by the ICB). This should be requested in writing, with supporting evidence addressing the specific reasons for refusal. 2. NHS England Review: If local resolution does not produce a satisfactory outcome, the case can be escalated to NHS England for an independent review. 3. Independent Review Panel (IRP): The final stage (an independent panel convened by NHS England

Receiving a CHC refusal is a significant moment (but it is not necessarily the end). Many CHC decisions are successfully overturned on appeal. In particular, refusals where domains have been under-scored, where clinical evidence has not been considered properly, or where the unpredictability of needs has not been factored into the assessment, are strong candidates for challenge. There are common patterns that suggest a refusal may have been incorrect: - One or more DST domain

Yes (and it is refused more often than it should be). Fast Track applications can be declined by the ICB, delayed without proper justification, or withdrawn after funding has been put in place. All of these situations can be challenged. SG67 acts urgently in Fast Track cases. If a Fast Track application has been refused, delayed, or is urgently needed and has not yet been initiated, contact us as a priority.

Fast Track CHC is an urgent pathway that bypasses the standard two-stage assessment process. It is designed for situations where a person is rapidly deteriorating or approaching end of life (and cannot wait weeks for a full DST assessment). A clinician (typically a GP, consultant, or nurse) can complete a Fast Track Pathway Tool. If approved, CHC funding can be put in place within days rather than weeks. In cases where this pathway is used correctly, it can be the difference

Yes, a Personal Health Budget (often called a PHB) is an alternative way of managing CHC-funded care. Instead of the NHS organising and paying for care directly, the person (or their representative) manages a budget and arranges their own care (as long as it meets agreed outcomes). A PHB gives families more control over who provides care, when, and how. However, budgets are sometimes set too low to actually meet the person's needs. If you are already in receipt of CHC funding

Yes. CHC funding is not restricted to care homes. If a person qualifies, the NHS will fund their care wherever it is delivered (including at home with community nurses, carers, and specialist support). The type of care funded depends on what is needed, not where the person lives. Many families are unaware that CHC-funded care at home is possible.

Funded Nursing Care (often shortened to FNC) is a lower level of NHS funding for people living in nursing homes who do not meet the full CHC criteria but do require registered nursing input as part of their care. The key differences are: NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC): - Covers the full cost of care - Requires a primary health need to be established - Available at home or in a care home - Person pays nothing Funded Nursing Care (FNC): - Covers nursing element only (approxima

No. CHC is not means-tested. A person's savings, property, income, or pension are completely irrelevant to CHC eligibility and to the amount of funding awarded. This is the most important distinction between CHC and local authority social care. If a person qualifies, the NHS funds their care in full (regardless of how much money they have).

Timelines vary significantly depending on the ICB and individual circumstances. In general: - The Checklist should be completed within 28 days of referral - The full DST assessment can take a further four to eight weeks from the Checklist outcome - The ICB's funding decision follows the MDT meeting In urgent situations (where a person is rapidly deteriorating) the Fast Track CHC pathway can bypass the standard assessment entirely and secure funding within days. Speak to an ex

The CHC assessment is a two-stage process. Most families are surprised to learn how structured (and how challengeable) it is. Understanding the process is the first step to navigating it effectively. Stage 1: The CHC Checklist (Tool 11) The Checklist (formally known as Tool 11) is a screening tool. A healthcare or social care professional completes it, looking at 11 areas of need: breathing, nutrition, continence, skin, mobility, communication, behaviour, cognition, psycholog

To qualify for CHC, a person must be found to have a 'primary health need' - this is the legal test set out in the NHS National Framework for Continuing Healthcare. A primary health need exists when the care a person requires is primarily driven by their health condition - not just social or personal care needs. The assessment looks at four key factors: Nature What type of care is needed, and does it require clinical oversight — such as medication management, wound care, or c

CHC eligibility is not decided on the basis of a diagnosis. The NHS does not look at what condition a person has and say 'yes' or 'no' on that basis. Eligibility is decided entirely on the nature of the person's care needs. To qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC), you must be an adult aged 18 or over living in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland who is assessed as having a "primary health need". This fully funded, free package of care is not means-tested and is entirel

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Local Authority Social Care Funded entirely by the NHS You may have to pay Covers all care costs (health and personal care) Covers personal care needs only Not affected by savings or property Threshold: roughly £23,250 in savings before you must pay in full Available at home or in a care home Subject to local authority eligibility criteria Decided by the NHS (Integrated Care Board) Decided by your local council

NHS Continuing Healthcare, usually shortened to CHC or CHC funding, is a package of care that is paid for entirely by the NHS. Not partly. Not after a means test. Entirely. If a person qualifies, the NHS funds their care in full — whether they are living at home, in a care home, or in a nursing home. The person's savings, income, or property are irrelevant. CHC is not means-tested. It is a health entitlement. CHC is designed for adults whose main need for care arises from a h