The LGA and ADASS remain concerned about the variation across the country in eligibility rates for continuing healthcare under the current system.
Key messages
- The LGA and ADASS remain concerned about the variation across the country in eligibility rates for continuing healthcare under the current system.
- While the NHS is free at the point of delivery, access to local public services (including but not limited to social care and some public health services) is means-tested. This can become challenging when these two systems interact which is an increasingly common occurrence as service providers recognise the need for a comprehensive care programme for people.
- The system can be difficult for people to navigate due to its lack of transparency. This means that many people who have a right to access continuing healthcare do not, due to the complexity of the process.
- The current arrangements are resource intensive to administer and the complexity of this system means that the costs are difficult to measure.
- We are concerned about the risk of some costs moving from the NHS onto individuals or onto local authorities when people are discharged from acute hospital but require a continuing period of recovery/rehabilitation before their longer term needs can be accurately assessed.
- Lack of clarity regarding the funding responsibilities associated with providing continuing healthcare has the potential to lead to conflict and tension between health and social care at a time when it is vital that these agencies work together.
- Given the ongoing challenges of funding social care that local authorities face, it is particularly disappointing that the Government made no further allocations to local authority social care budgets which face a £2.3 billion gap by 2020.
Download the full briefing
NHS Continuing Healthcare, House of Commons, Monday 27 November 2017