Alzheimer's Society

The Department of Health has published a new national framework for England of eligibility criteria for NHS continuing care.

The framework, which came into force on 1 October 2007, sets out a range of factors PCTs should consider when deciding whether someone meets the criteria for NHS continuing care. These include behaviour, psychological and emotional needs, and mobility.

Key points

• The Society believes that the new framework, if implemented properly at a local level, should mean that some additional people with dementia will get access to fully funded NHS care. This is welcome.
• We remain concerned that it will not end the postcode lottery of care funding, as eligibility is still likely to depend on local interpretation of the criteria.
• Thousands of people with continue to pay for care that they need as a result of a physical disease of the brain. The current care funding system is broken and needs a complete overhaul. We need a national debate on who pays for care.

For further information, see the Alzheimer's Society briefing paper on the National Framework for NHS continuing care, published in June 2007

Resources

• More information and guidance about continuing care
• NHS continuing care volunteer support network
• National Framework for NHS continuing care, Alzheimer's Society briefing paper, June 2007
• A letter for people who want to get a continuing care review

Campaign information and news stories

• The story of the campaign so far
• Continuing care champion wins landmark case