Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) making it easier for people with degenerative diseases to obtain NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding and (b) removing the requirement for people with degenerative diseases to be assessed before receiving NHS CHC funding.

The Department works with partners, including NHS England, external organisations and people with lived experience, to seek feedback on NHS Continuing Healthcare policy and implementation. This includes seeking feedback on how people with degenerative diseases can access NHS Continuing Healthcare funding as quickly as possible where they are assessed as eligible.

The Department has published national guidance which states that when undertaking a full Standard NHS Continuing Healthcare assessment, the multidisciplinary team should ideally include someone with specialist knowledge of the individual’s condition. The guidance also sets out that individuals with a rapidly deteriorating condition, who may be entering a terminal phase, may be eligible for Fast Track Continuing Healthcare. NHS England has also commissioned an Information and Advice Service for NHS Continuing Healthcare which provides independent, free advice for individuals and families navigating the process.

The NHS Continuing Healthcare assessment process is required to determine whether an individual’s needs mean they are eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare. Where eligible, the integrated care board is responsible for commissioning a package which meets all the individual’s assessed health and associated care and support needs.