Information & advice

This factsheet explains the support available from the NHS if you have long term health needs following hospital treatment or because of a chronic illness or disability.

Patients or the families of patients with complex and/or intense healthcare needs who are cared for at home or in a care home would find this factsheet helpful.

It includes information on:

• the new National Framework for NHS continuing healthcare introduced in October 2007 that aims to improve transparency and consistency when deciding who is eligible to have the cost of their care paid for by the NHS
• the new tools developed to support the process of deciding if you are eligible for continuing NHS healthcare
• your options if you are dissatisfied with an eligibility decision
• changes to NHS-funded nursing care introduced at the same time as the National Framework
• other NHS services such as rehabilitation and palliative care services
• intermediate care services offering time-limited support from the NHS and/or social services. 
  Information about the National Framework is available on the Department of Health website

Further information

Please download our factsheet in the top right of this page.