Department of Health to review NHS funding of nursing in care homes

The Department of Health has announced it is to review the rate paid by the NHS to private care providers for nursing services.

Registered nursing care for residents, who are assessed to be eligible, in nursing homes is funded by the NHS and the rate payable for this financial year is currently £112 a week per resident.

The review will consider whether the rate paid is reflective of the costs of providing this important service and whether it adequately supports high quality out-of-hospital care.

Care England has been campaigning on this issue for many years and its chief executive, Professor Martin Green, said in response to the announcement: “Care England will continue to liaise with the Department of Health as to the manner of the review and liaise with others in the nursing home sector on this extremely important issue.”

The Department of Health intends to complete the review in this financial year.

NHS-funded nursing care was introduced by the Health and Social Services Act 2001, which made care provided by registered nurses in nursing homes an NHS responsibility.