“You have succeeded in making what would otherwise have been an awful matter into one that was not only tolerable but actually enjoyable. A rare talent.”
If your relative has a primary health need they may qualify for Continuing Health Care – sometimes also referred to as ‘Continuous’ Health Care (CHC).
Put simply, if it can be said that the majority of your relative’s care needs is health-related, then CHC should be an option.
For immediate assistance please call us now on 0203 653 0623 or complete a Free Online Enquiry and we will be delighted to help you.
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If your relative has been granted CHC, they will not have to pay ANY fees for their care. All costs will be paid for in full, including the ‘social’ elements of their care. This applies regardless of whether they receive care in their own home or in a nursing home.
CHC is not means tested so any savings or property your relative may have, will not be used to pay for care.
The CHC postcode lottery means that each local NHS local authority – called a Clinical Commissioning Group – interprets the health assessment guidelines for awarding CHC differently.
If that seems unfair – you’re right, it is!
They are not meant to do this and we can do something about it!
If you think your relative might qualify for CHC, it’s important to get help from an expert who will fight your corner and ensure that the application is dealt with fairly.
It’s best to seek our advice as soon as possible – ideally before the social worker conducts a health assessment.
We can provide straightforward advice and expert support to give you the best chance of succeeding in your application for CHC.
Let’s be honest – it is not in the interests of either the NHS or your Local Authority to award anyone CHC. It’s costly and their budgets are constantly under pressure.
Depending on where you live, your Local Authority may try to make it extremely difficult for your relative to qualify for CHC.
The time it takes some CCGs to reach a decision on funding also shocks some relatives. We have heard of a number of cases where relatives are still waiting more than a year after submitting their application.
There is a way of ‘fast-tracking’ the decision, where a person is terminally ill or their condition is rapidly deteriorating. However, the criteria for meeting this also appears to be open to interpretation – which is again completely wrong.
We strongly advise relatives who are about to make an application for CHC to seek legal advice. We can ensure that the health assessment is a true representation of your relative’s health needs so that the application does not fall at the first hurdle.
We can then put pressure on the CCG for regular updates, so that your case does not ‘inadvertently fall to the bottom of the pile!’
Currently, many people with dementia are denied free CHC – which we believe is a national scandal.
As yet, there is no cure for dementia, but the cost of care for those affected by this disabling disease is not paid for by the NHS.
Dementia is a disease but when it comes to NHS funding, it is not treated equally. In contrast, diabetes, in particular Type 2, which can be linked to lifestyle choices is recognised as a disease and the costs of any complications are covered by the NHS.
However, many people with dementia, who were initially turned down for CHC, go on to develop other health problems so if their condition has changed for the worse recently, you should reapply for CHC.
Contact the team at Steene Law and we can advise you whether a further application is worthwhile.
In the meantime, the issue of dementia not being funded by the NHS continues to make news headlines. The issues has been debated by MPs and campaigners are hoping that the Government will soon have a change of heart, meaning that people with dementia are not treated like second class citizens by the NHS.
For regular updates, please visit out blog page.
Sadly, we are not surprised – many people find themselves in this unfair situation.
If your relative has already been turned down for CHC or they’ve been told they no longer qualify, speak to us.
We will look at the facts and tell you straight away whether we think the decision is wrong and should be appealed.
We have successfully fought and won cases of unfair CHC decisions. Recently, we took on a case involving a London Borough which had incorrectly applied the rules relating to CHC and we recovered a six figure sum for the family.
Call our expert team now for a FREE conversation on 0203 653 0625.
Call The Care Fees Specialists Now
Steene Law specialise in Care Home Fees, especially protecting you from having to sell a property to pay for care home fees.
Please do not delay, please call us now 0203 653 0623, email reception@steenelaw.co.uk or complete a Free Online Enquiry and we will be delighted to help you.
We are available from 8am to 7pm, 365 days of the year and will explain your options including how you can fight an unfair LPA challenge.
“I cannot thank David and Dianne enough for the effort and knowledge they displayed helping me deal with my Grandfather’s care and the subsequent legal battle that came with it.
I had a complicated and, to me, bizarre yet worrying situation that David and Dianne both worked tirelessly on.
My Grandfather was a WWII veteran and was neglected and treated as a statistic by a care home and a rather unforgiving council.
I’m grateful that David and Dianne not only got the result I needed, but made it simple to understand and took away a lot of stress. I have recommended them to many others and will continue to do so. Forever grateful!”
C.W