Free Nursing Care

(Registered Nurse Care Contribution (RNCC)

In July 2000 The NHS accepted that registered nursing care should be free of charge to the recipient in all settings.

Following this, the Health and Social Care Act, Section 49, removed Local Authorities’ responsibilities for providing nursing care by a registered nurse as defined below.

Simply put an assessment, Section 47, will be carried out by a NHS nurse who will decide whether you are entitled to receive The Registered Nursing Care Contribution and this will be paid directly to your care home.

REGISTERED NURSING CARE CONTRIBUTION BANDS (RNCC)

Until further notice, the 2007/08 rate of £101 for the single band will continue to apply.

No decision will be made on any adjustment to the Rate for 2008/09 until the Government has received and considered the recommendations of the NHS Pay Review Body.

Any nursing home resident currently receiving high band funding should continue to receive this higher level of payment until their case is reviewed in line with the National Framework for Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care. On the basis of this review, if the person is not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, but their needs are still such that they would have continued to receive the high band payment, this payment should continue: the same procedure should be followed at any subsequent review of this person. If, upon review, their needs have been found to decrease to the equivalent of medium or low band, the PCT should decrease the payment to the single rate. Until further notice, the 2007/08 rate of £139 for the old high band will continue to apply.

In Wales, a flat rate of £107.63 per week is payable, and in Scotland the figure is £65 per week. Northern Ireland nursing care recipients receive a flat £100 per week. 

Will the NHS pay the Full Cost of Care in any situation?

Each Primary Care Trust (PCT) has to produce its eligibility criteria for continuing NHS care. If you have a continuing need for NHS care, your care home fees could be fully funded by the NHS.

Any complaints regarding the nursing care paid for or provided by the NHS can be made using the NHS complaints procedure via the care home, the Primary Care Trust or Health Authority.