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Practical guideGuide

NHS Continuing Healthcare: Screening and Eligibility Basics

CHC can fund care when needs are primarily health-related. The checklist and decision support tool are where many disputes start.

  • 📅Last updated 2026-05-12
  • ⏱12 min read
  • 🇬🇧UK support guide
  • ✓Reviewed against official guidance

Guide summary

CHC can fund care when needs are primarily health-related. The checklist and decision support tool are where many disputes start.

  • Ask the NHS (ward team, GP, or continuing healthcare team) to complete the checklist if needs may qualify.
  • If checklist passes, request full assessment and DST — keep copies of all paperwork.
  • For fast-track, ask whether terminal or rapidly deteriorating health criteria apply (professional decision).
  • If eligible, agree care package and funding responsibilities in writing.
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Practical next steps

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  • Work through each step

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Start here

Three immediate actions before you work through the full guide.

  1. 1Ask the NHS (ward team, GP, or continuing healthcare team) to complete the checklist if needs may qualify.
  2. 2If checklist passes, request full assessment and DST — keep copies of all paperwork.
  3. 3For fast-track, ask whether terminal or rapidly deteriorating health criteria apply (professional decision).

Quick answer

NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) means the NHS funds care and support for people with intense health needs, including in their own home or a care home. In England the process uses a checklist, then a decision support tool (DST) in most cases, or fast-track for rapidly deteriorating conditions. CHC is separate from local authority social care funding — getting one does not automatically mean you get the other.

Use this guide if…

  • Adults with long-term complex health needs in England (Scotland, Wales, and NI have different systems).
  • People leaving hospital who may need joint health and social care planning.
  • Families where care costs are high and health needs dominate daily support.

Common questions

Practical answers you can use straight away — expand any question for next steps, example wording, and related help.

CHC can fund care when needs are primarily health-related. The checklist and decision support tool are where many disputes start.

What to do next

  • Adults with long-term complex health needs in England (Scotland, Wales, and NI have different systems).
  • People leaving hospital who may need joint health and social care planning.
  • Families where care costs are high and health needs dominate daily support.

Step-by-step

Your progress

Step 1 of 6

Ask the NHS (ward team, GP, or continuing healthcare team) to complete the checklist if needs may qualify.

What this means

  • Prepare: Checklist completed by a trained health or social care professional.
  • Check: Checklist completed by a trained health or social care professional.

Practical checklist

  • Ask the NHS (ward team, GP, or continuing healthcare team) to complete the checklist if needs may qualify.
  • Prepare: Checklist completed by a trained health or social care professional.
  • Check: Checklist completed by a trained health or social care professional.

Example approach

CHC can fund care when needs are primarily health-related. The checklist and decision support tool are where many disputes start.

Ask the AI: Help me with step 1 (Ask the NHS (ward team, GP, or continuing…) for NHS Continuing Healthcare: Screening and Eligibility Basics

You're making progress

You've completed 0 of 6 steps in this guide.

Evidence checklist

Keep or gather these before you contact an organisation or submit a form.

  • Checklist completed by a trained health or social care professional.
  • DST with multi-disciplinary input and evidence from professionals involved in care.
  • Care plans, hospital letters, nursing notes, therapy reports.
  • 24-hour care logs showing health needs across the day.
  • Medication charts and treatment schedules.

Copy-and-adapt templates

Wording you can paste into email, letters, or conversation notes.

24-hour health needs log (sample lines)

06:00 — [medication / turning / catheter care / pain management]
12:00 — [feeding support / diabetes monitoring / wound care]
18:00 — [mobility transfers with health risk / oxygen / seizures]
02:00 — [night positioning / monitoring / incontinence linked to condition]

Common mistakes

  • Assuming social care means test outcomes decide CHC (different legal tests).
  • Letting checklist be completed without you or your representative present to add examples.
  • Not keeping a daily log during assessment periods.
  • Paying care home top-ups without checking if CHC should cover fees first.

If they refuse, delay, or ignore you

  • Request written decision with checklist and DST scores where applicable.
  • Ask for local resolution meeting within the timeframe on your letter.
  • Contact Beacon CHC advocacy (where available) or specialist solicitors for appeal advice before deadlines.
  • Parallel: still pursue social care assessment if daily living support is needed.

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Guide summary

  • Ask the NHS (ward team, GP, or continuing healthcare team) to complete the checklist if needs may qualify.
  • If checklist passes, request full assessment and DST — keep copies of all paperwork.
  • For fast-track, ask whether terminal or rapidly deteriorating health criteria apply (professional decision).
  • If eligible, agree care package and funding responsibilities in writing.

Helpful templates

24-hour health needs log (sample lines)

When you need wording you can copy and adapt for email, letter, or conversation.

Copy text
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Desk with paperwork and planning materials

At a glance

  • Full cost of care at home or in a care home if eligible (package depends on assessed needs).
  • Fast-track CHC for end-of-life rapid deterioration in some cases.
  • NHS-funded nursing care contribution in some care home situations if CHC is not awarded (different rules).
  • Checklist completed by a trained health or social care professional.
  • DST with multi-disciplinary input and evidence from professionals involved in care.

Official guidance

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