NHS-funded Nursing Care

Do bear in mind: The NHS will pay a flat rate directly to the care home towards the cost of your care – the payment will not be made to you personally. If you are about to move into a care home, it has to be a home that provides nursing care, and you will need to check whether or not the weekly fees quoted by the care home are exclusive or inclusive of any nursing care costs payable by the NHS. 

Rates payable

The standard rate for NHS-funded nursing care across England was set in April 2018, at £165.56 per week.

Before October 2007 there were three different levels or bands of payment for NHS-funded nursing care – low, medium and high.

If you moved into a care home before 1st October 2007, and you were on the low or medium bands, you would have been transferred to the standard rate from that date.

However, if you were on the high band at that time, NHS-funded nursing care will be being paid at the higher rate of £217.59 per week, set in April 2018.

If you moved into a care home prior to 1^st October 2007 and have received the higher rate ever since, then you are entitled to continue at this rate unless:

• You no longer have nursing needs
• You no longer live in a care home that provides nursing
• Your nursing needs have reduced and you’re no longer eligible for the higher rate band, or:
• You become entitled to NHS Continuing Healthcare instead

How do I know I am entitled to Funded Nursing Care?

You may be entitled for NHS-funded care if either of the following situations applies:

1. You are not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare but you have been assessed as needing care from a registered nurse.

2. You are living in a nursing home (ie: a residential care home with nursing provision).

Decision on eligibility

If you are assessed as eligible for NHS-funded care, the NHS will arrange and fund nursing care for you, to be provided by registered nurses within a care home environment.

However, if you are already living in a care home that does not provide nursing care, you may have to be prepared to move to a care home that does.

Services provided by a registered nurse can include planning, supervising and monitoring nursing and healthcare tasks, as well as direct nursing care.

If, after your assessment, you are told you are not eligible for NHS-funded nursing care and you don’t agree with the decision, you can ask your CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) to review your case.