Affinity Financial Awareness -
Care Division
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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, section 47 of the Health and Social Care Act removed Local
Authorities’ responsibilities for providing nursing care by a registered
nurse as defined below.
Very simply, an assessment will be carried out by and if certain criteria
are met the NHS will pay the full care cost, otherwise the patient will
have to cover their own costs. The relevant Registered Nursing Care Contribution will
be paid directly to the care home.
The NHS will make a limited contribution of either £108.70 or
£149.60 (England; £120.55 flat rate in Wales) per week towards essential
nursing care. In Scotland £156 is paid if you are assessed as requiring
personal care and an additional contribution of £71 if you are over 65 and
also require nursing care. Northern Ireland nursing care
recipients receive a flat rate of £100 per week.
It is important to realise that this only covers care provided by a
registered nurse and will not apply in most circumstances.
Will the NHS pay the full cost of Care under some circumstances?
Each
Health Authority has to produce its eligibility criteria for continuing NHS
care. If there is a continuing need for NHS care then 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.
