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NHS funded nursing care
Before October 2001, some people had to pay for their own nursing care. Now everyone in need, regardless of setting and means, is eligible for NHS-paid care from a registered nurse
Overview and information for the public
How the NHS will implement the Government's commitment to bring in free care nursing care from a registered nurse for those paying all the costs of their care, sometimes referred to as "self-funders".
What's new
Advice note on Nursing Care Bands
Published: 04/03/2009
This note confirms the annual increase in the level of the NHS contribution towards the costs of a place in a care home with nursing for those people assessed as requiring the help of a registered nurse.
NHS-Funded Nursing Care Practice Guide 2007
Published: 28/09/2007 13:37
This document comprises best practice guidance, includes information and links to other guidance, and sets out the process for the consideration of eligibility for NHS-funded Nursing Care under the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care to be implemented from 1 October 2007.
The NHS Continuing Healthcare (Responsibilities) Directions 2007
Published: 30/08/2007 11:17
A National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care in England
Published 26 June 2007
Following on from last year’s public consultation, we have published the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care in England. We have also published the tools to support the new Framework and the Department’s response to the consultation.
Guidance documents for nurses, other professionals and providers
Advice note on Nursing Care Bands
Published: 04/03/2008
This note sets out the Registered Nursing Care Contribution Single Band Rate for 2008/09 which should be applied from 1 April.
Advice note on transition to single band
Published: 30/08/2007 12:14
This note is to provide clarity around the new arrangements for the provision of NHS-funded Nursing Care in a care home providing nursing care from 1 October 2007.
Advice note on nursing care bands
Published: 16/03/2007
This note is to provide continuity and confirm the annual increase in NHS funding for nursing care for the next financial year.
Ensuring that all recipients of high band NHS-funded nursing care have been correctly considered against eligibility criteria for fully funded NHS continuing care
Published: 28/11/2005
This letter provides advice to strategic health authorities (SHAs) on the interaction of continuing care and NHS-funded nursing care. It aims to ensure that the correct process is being used to differentiate between people who receive fully funded NHS continuing care and the high band of NHS-funded nursing care.
NHS-funded nursing care: allocations for 2004-05 and 2005-06
Published: 21/03/2005
NHS Funded Nursing Care and Short-Term Respite Care from 1 April 2005
Published: 21/03/2005
Guidance on respite care is contained at paragraphs 5-6 of HSC 2001/17: LAC(2001)26 and paragraphs 26-27 of HSC 2003/006: LAC (2003)7. The following advice develops this to describe arrangements for short-term respite care in certain centres.
NHS funded nursing care: Results of the November 2003 census of residents of care homes receiving nursing care in England
Section 49 of the Health and Social Services Act, 2001 makes care provided by registered nurses in care homes an NHS responsibility. From 1 October 2001, the NHS became responsible for those who funded all their care in nursing homes (self funders). From 1 April 2003 NHS funding was extended to residents of care homes providing nursing care who receive financial support from local councils.
Department of Health NHS/Local Authority/Provider Model (B) Contract
Revised March 2003
Department of Health NHS/Provider model contract
Revised March 2003
NHS-funded nursing care: practice guide & workbook
Includes Registered Nursing Care Contribution & case studies
NHS-funded nursing care: practice guide & workbook
Case studies
NHS-funded nursing care: practice guide & workbook
Example of audit tool
NHS-funded nursing care: practice guide & workbook
Example of audit tool
NHS-funded nursing care: guide to care home managers on GP services for residents
Published: 12/05/2003
The NHS is an organisation made up of different groups engaged in planning or providing health care. GPs are not NHS employees but are self-employed professionals who have a contract with the NHS to provide personal medical services free to the patients who are registered with them. There are currently two types of contracts that GPs can have with the NHS - a General Medical Services (GMS) contract, which is the more recognised contract that most NHS GPs work under; and a Personal Medical Services (PMS) contract, which is designed to reflect local needs. It can sometimes be unclear to those without an intimate knowledge of the NHS where the line is drawn between what a GP provides as part of the NHS contract and what constitutes private practice.
NHS-funded nursing care: list of local authority contacts
Published: 09/05/2003
People to contact about NHS-funded nursing care in local authorities across England.
Frequently asked questions
Protocol on cross-border issues for NHS-funded nursing care in care homes in England and Wales
Protocol on cross-border issues for NHS-funded nursing care in care homes in England and Wales from 1 April 2004
Allocations for 2003-2004 NHS-funded nursing care in nursing homes
Published: 06/05/2003
Tables of PCT allocations
Transfer of funds from the PSS SSA to the NHS
1. In the NHS Plan, the Government promised to make nursing care free for all, regardless of the setting in which it is delivered. At paragraph 15.18 it said: "nursing care provided in nursing homes will be fully funded by the NHS". The Health and Social Care Act 2001 gives effect to this commitment.
NHS funded nursing care: Results of the December 2002 census of residents of care homes receiving nursing care in England
Section 49 of the Health and Social Services Act, 2001 makes care provided by registered nurses in care homes an NHS responsibility. From 1 October 2001, the NHS became responsible for those who funded all their care in nursing homes (self funders). From 1 April 2003 NHS funding was extended to residents of care homes providing nursing care who receive financial support from local councils.
Publications and Circulars
National framework for NHS continuing healthcare and NHS funded nursing care in England: A consultation
Published: 19/06/2006
The Government is determined to establish a simpler, fairer and more coherent system of assessment to determine eligibility for NHS funding of long-term care outside hospitals. The documents published in this consultation (closing date 22 September 2006) detail the proposals for a National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care in England.
The provision of equipment in care homes
The Care Homes (Amendment No.2) Regulations 2003
HSC 2003/006 - Guidance on NHS funded nursing care
Published: 12/03/2003
This circular advises on: NHS responsibilities for arranging care by a registered nurse for people in care homes providing nursing care from 1 October 2001; and arrangements for transferring responsibility from councils to the NHS from 1 April 2003 for the care by a registered nurse of residents of care homes that provide nursing care.
Consultation on supplementary guidance on NHS funded nursing care
61 responses were received to this consultation. Ministers were content to note the responses to the consultation, and the views of key stakeholders, and to approve the issue of guidance on NHS funded nursing care to the NHS and local government incorporating comments received during the consultation. The guidance was issued as HSC 2003/006: LAC(2003)7 on 12 March 2003.
HSC 2001/017: Guidance on free nursing care in nursing homes
Published: 25/09/2001
This circular advises on: the NHS's responsibilities for arranging care by a registered nurse for some people in nursing homes from 1 October 2001; the arrangements for transferring responsibility from councils to the NHS from 1 April 2003 for the care by a registered nurse of nursing home residents; and the arrangements for the care by a registered nurse of nursing home residents with preserved rights to higher rates of income support, whose residential care management and nursing care will be transferred to councils from 8 April 2002 and whose nursing care will become an NHS responsibility from 1 April 2003.
HSC 2002/001: Guidance on the single assessment process for older people
Published: 28/01/2002
This circular provides guidance to local NHS bodies and councils with social services responsibilities on the implementation of the single assessment process for older people, as part of overall implementation of the National Service Framework for Older People.
LAC (2001)29: Charges for residential accommodation: CRAG amendment no 16 : National Assistance: (residential accommodation): (additional payments and assessment of resources): (amendment): (England): regulations 2001
Published: 24/10/2001
This circular announces the cancellation of Paragraphs 8 to 11 of the National Assistance Act 1948 (choice of accommodation) directions 1992.
LAC (2002)7: Guidance to councils with social services responsibilities on the abolition of preserved rights
Published: 12/03/2002
This circular contains statutory guidance for councils with social services responsibilities on the preserved rights transfer. From 8 April 2002 they will have responsibility for making residential accommodation arrangements for people who were in independent sector residential care and nursing homes on 31 March 1993 and who are entitled to income support at preserved rights rates.
LAC (2002)13: Fair access to care services: guidance on eligibility criteria for adult social care
Published: 28/05/2002
This circular provides guidance to councils with social services responsibilities on how they may achieve fair access to care services through reviewing and revising their eligibility criteria for adult social care.
LAC (2002)7: Guidance to councils with social services responsibilities on the abolition of preserved rights
Published: 12/03/2002
This circular contains statutory guidance for councils with social services responsibilities on the preserved rights transfer. From 8 April 2002 they will have responsibility for making residential accommodation arrangements for people who were in independent sector residential care and nursing homes on 31 March 1993 and who are entitled to income support at preserved rights rates.
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