Continuing with care

It is very important that before anyone is discharged from hospital their needs are properly assessed.

The NHS should always consider whether or not the patient has a primary health need and therefore qualifies for fully funded NHS continuing care.

This is often overlooked when a patient is discharged from hospital.

The eligibility criteria under the national framework are complex and often misunderstood or misinterpreted by many hospitals and their employees.

In the first instance there is a screening checklist to see if an assessment should be carried out. This will determine whether a patient meets the eligibility criteria.

As you will appreciate, it is difficult to obtain continuing care funding although not impossible and therefore this should always be considered if the circumstances are appropriate. If your overall care needs are mainly health related you may be able to get your care costs paid in full by the Primary Care Trust.