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NHS Continuing Healthcare: Care the NHS Pays For in Full
The least understood funding route of all: when someone's needs are primarily about health rather than daily living, the NHS — not the council, not the family — can fund the whole care package. No means test at all.
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is for adults whose main, ongoing need is a health need — complex medical conditions, unpredictable symptoms, intensive nursing-level support. Where someone qualifies, the NHS funds their full package of care, including care at home, regardless of savings or income.
Honesty up front: most people assessed don't qualify — the bar is set high, at what's called a "primary health need". But families should always know it exists, because for those who do qualify it changes everything, and because the fast-track version matters enormously at the end of life.
The key facts
CHC is free and never means-tested — money is simply not part of the assessment. It can pay for care at home, not just in nursing homes. Locally it's arranged by NHS Sussex. And there's a fast-track route for people who are nearing the end of life, which is usually decided within days.
How the Assessment Works
Ask for a checklist
Anyone can raise it — ask the GP, district nurse, hospital discharge team or social worker for a CHC checklist screening. If a professional says "they won't qualify" without screening, politely insist: the checklist is deliberately set low so people aren't screened out informally.
The full assessment
If the checklist passes, a multidisciplinary team assesses needs across areas like mobility, medication, cognition, behaviour and breathing, using a national Decision Support Tool. Family input counts — bring notes and examples, especially about unpredictability and night-time needs.
Decision — and challenge if needed
If eligible, the NHS funds and arranges the care package (you can express a preference for a provider). If refused and you disagree, you can request a review — refusals are overturned often enough that persistence is worthwhile. Beacon (an independent charity-founded service) offers free CHC advice.
Nearing the end of life: fast track
Where someone's condition is deteriorating quickly, a doctor or nurse can complete a fast-track tool and funding should be in place within about 48 hours. Families in that situation shouldn't hesitate to ask directly for fast-track CHC.
Didn't qualify? It's the most common outcome, and it doesn't mean no help exists — the care needs assessment and Attendance Allowance are the next doors to knock on, and both are covered in our guides.
Checked July 2026. The full national framework is on the NHS website. This guide is general information, not medical or financial advice.
Navigating complex care needs?
We support clients with high and complex needs at home every day, and we're happy to talk through what good support looks like — whoever ends up funding it.