NHS continuing healthcare is the name given to a package of continuing care which is, arranged and funded solely by the NHS, for people with ongoing healthcare needs who meet the National NHS continuing healthcare eligibility criteria.
If you are eligible, you can receive free NHS continuing healthcare in any setting, such as:
- In your own home: services from a community nurse and personal care, such as help with bathing and dressing
- In a care home: as well as healthcare and personal care, the NHS will pay for your care home fees, including board and accommodation.
Find out more in our frequently asked questions document.
Further information is also available from NHS England.
NHS NW London Continuing Healthcare Teams contact details can be found below.
Continuing healthcare is also available for children and young people. Click here to find out more.
To be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, your main or primary need for care must relate to your health.
For example, people who are eligible are likely to:
- Have a complex medical condition such as dementia that requires a lot of care and support
- Need highly specialised nursing support
- Someone nearing the end of their life is also likely to be eligible if they have a condition that is rapidly getting worse and may be terminal
Read the National framework for NHS continuing healthcare and NHS-funded nursing care.
The NHS carries out assessments to determine whether a patient is eligible for continuing healthcare. This may be undertaken by NHS and social care staff who are involved in the patients care or who may have particular expertise in the patient’s condition.
If you would like a fully-funded NHS continuing healthcare assessment for yourself, for a family member or for a person you care for, you can speak to:
- Your social worker (if applicable)
- A member of the clinical team involved in your care
NHS funded nursing care is a weekly payment made on behalf of the residents of care homes with nursing who have been assessed as ineligible for NHS continuing healthcare but need to be in the care home with nursing so they can access nursing any time of the day or night.
For more information about NHS funded nursing care please contact the Continuing Healthcare Team via the contact details below.
If you are eligible for NHS funded continuing healthcare, you may also wish to have a Personal Healthcare Budget. Please see this leaflet for more information. You can discuss this further with your Continuing Healthcare Team.
Continuing Healthcare Team (Brent, Harrow & Hillingdon Locality)
Hours of Service: Monday to Friday 09.00 to 17.00hrs
Telephone: 020 3114 7123
Email: nhsnwl.chc.bhh@nhs.net
Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon Locality
Continuing Healthcare Team
NHS North West London
Sudbury Primary Care Centre
Vale Farm, Watford Road, Wembley
London HA0 3HG
Continuing Healthcare Team (Ealing and Hounslow Locality)
Hours of Service: Monday to Friday 09.00 to 17.00hrs
Telephone: 020 3350 4091
Email: nhsnwl.chcreferrals@nhs.net
Ealing and Hounslow Locality
Continuing Healthcare Team
NHS North West London
Sudbury Primary Care Centre
Vale Farm, Watford Road, Wembley
London HA0 3HG
Continuing Healthcare Team
(Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham Locality)
Hours of Service: Monday to Friday 09.00 to 17.00hrs
Telephone: 020 3114 7220
Email: chc.admin@nhs.net
Continuing Healthcare Team
(Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham Locality)
NHS North West London
St. Charles Hospital for Health & Wellbeing
Western Pavilion
Exmoor Street, London W10 6DZ
The Children’s Continuing Care Team provides additional support to children with the highest level of complex medical needs within North West London, these are assessed in accordance with the Children and Young People's Continuing Care National Framework 2016.