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Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

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NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a package of care arranged and funded by the NHS for adults aged 18 and over who have significant ongoing health needs.

It is provided outside of hospital and is available to people who have been assessed as having a primary health need. This may include people with complex long-term conditions, disabilities, serious illness or those nearing the end of life.

If someone is eligible, the Integrated Care Board (ICB) funds their full package of health and social care.

Care in the community can be provided in a variety of settings. This may include care in an individual’s own home, supported living, residential or nursing homes, or hospice care, in line with the Choice Policy.

We are committed to supporting choice wherever possible, ensuring that care arrangements reflect both individual preferences and assessed needs.

You may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare if you:

  • have complex or long-term health needs arising from a disability, illness or accident, or
  • are approaching the end of life and require ongoing care

Eligibility is not based on a specific diagnosis or condition. Instead, it is determined through an assessment process set out in national guidance, which considers the nature, intensity, complexity and unpredictability of your needs.

You can read the National Framework for NHS continuing healthcare and NHS-funded nursing care here.

To be considered for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding, individuals are first assessed using an initial screening process known as a Checklist. This is part of a nationally prescribed decision-making process used to identify whether a full assessment for a primary health need is required.

The Checklist can be completed by a trained health or social care professional who is involved in your care, such as a nurse, doctor, or social worker.

If you would like to request a Checklist for yourself or someone you care for, you can speak to:

  • your social worker (if you have one)
  • a member of the clinical team involved in your care

They will be able to arrange for the Checklist to be completed and advise on the next steps.

If you live in a nursing home, the nursing home staff can request an assessment for NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC) on your behalf.

A trained health professional within your Nursing Home setting (NCL area only )will complete an initial screening (Checklist) and submit this to the Integrated Care Board (ICB) to help identify whether you have nursing needs that may be eligible for FNC.

If you are found eligible, the ICB will make a contribution towards the cost of the nursing care provided by a registered nurse. This is a standard weekly payment, known as the FNC rate, which is paid directly to the nursing home.

For 2026/27, the standard FNC rate is £235.88 per week. This rate is set nationally by NHS England and may be reviewed periodically.

Your eligibility for FNC will be reviewed after 3 months and then annually to ensure it continues to meet your needs.

Please note that FNC is a contribution towards the nursing element of care only and does not cover the full cost of care.

Barnet, Camden and Enfield CHC Team

For all new and existing NHS FastTrack referrals and reviews please contact: nclicb.chcfasttrack@nhs.net

For all new NHS Standard Continuing Healthcare referrals, and all NHS Funding nursing care enquiries and reviews: nclicb.chcduty@nhs.net

For all NHS Standard Continuing Healthcare reviews, Safeguarding and welfare checks, Personal Health Budgets, Changes to care packages, and Previously unassessed Periods of Care: nclicb.chccasemanagement@nhs.net

For all referrals and enquires relating to discharge to assess (both managed and non-managed pathways) and In-Reach:

Email: nclicb.d2a@nhs.netWorking Hours: Monday – Friday 09:00 – 17:00 (excluding bank holidays)

Haringey CHC Team

Email: whh-tr.continuingcare1@nhs.netTelephone: 0203 316 8740Working Hours: Monday – Friday 09:00 – 17:00 (excluding bank holidays)

Islington CHC Team

Email:  continuingcare3@nhs.netTelephone: 0203 316 8706Working Hours: Monday – Friday 09:00 – 17:00 (excluding bank holiday)

Continuing Healthcare Team (Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon Locality)

Hours of Service: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pmTelephone: 020 3114 7123 Email: nhsnwl.chc.bhh@nhs.net

Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon LocalityContinuing Healthcare TeamNHS North West LondonSudbury Primary Care CentreVale Farm, Watford Road, WembleyLondon HA0 3HG

Continuing Healthcare Team (Ealing and Hounslow Locality)

Hours of Service: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pmTelephone: 020 3350 4091 Email: nhsnwl.chc.duty-eh@nhs.net

Ealing and Hounslow LocalityContinuing Healthcare TeamNHS North West LondonSudbury Primary Care CentreVale Farm, Watford Road, WembleyLondon HA0 3HG

Continuing Healthcare Team (Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham Locality)

Hours of Service: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pmTelephone: 020 3114 7220 Email: nhsnwl.chc.admin-tri@nhs.net

Continuing Healthcare Team(Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham Locality)NHS North West LondonSt. Charles Hospital for Health & WellbeingWestern PavilionExmoor Street, London W10 6DZ

If you have been assessed for continuing healthcare and are unsatisfied with the outcome of the assessment, you can appeal by email. 

If you live in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Islington please email: nclicb.chcappeals@nhs.net 

If you live in Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea or Westminster, please email: nhsnwl.chc.appeals@nhs.net

Appeals and disputes policies

If you live in North Central London - Barnet, Camden Enfield, Haringey or Islington:

  • North Central London appeals policy with further details about our local appeals process.
  • North Central London dispute policy: on occasion, our Local Authority partners may dispute the ICB’s decision following an assessment. To ensure that these disputes are processed fairly and with due consideration, we have developed a dispute policy.
  • There may be circumstances in which a Local Authority (LA) is unable to assign a representative, in which case the following protocol will be followed.

If you are a Continuing Healthcare client funded by North Central London ICB and you have a query about your care provider you should contact your named nurse.

If you require further information or support with your package of care then please email the Complex Individualised Commissioning team on: nclicb.cicchccommissioning@nhs.net

If you live in North West London - Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington and Chelsea or Westminster:

  • Appeals 
  • Disputes
Choice and Equity Policy for All

If you require further information regarding choice and you live in north central London, read the Choice and Equity Policy for All.