Care homes: NHS Funded Nursing Care gets 11 per cent rate rise

The government has increased the Funded Nursing Care rate in care homes by 11 per cent, upping the rate for 2019 to 2020 by nine per cent and also increasing the rate in 2020 to 2021 by another two per cent.

NHS Funded Nursing Care is when the health service pays towards the nursing care part of nursing home fees. It pays a flat rate directly to the care home towards the cost of this nursing care.

The government has revised the rate for 2019 to 2020 from £165.56 a week to £180.31 and has pledged to backdate the payments to April 2019. For the 2020 to 2021 financial year, it is upping the rate by two per cent from £180.31 to £183.92. This will be backdated to 1 April 2020.

The higher rate of NHS-funded nursing care will also increase by nine per cent from the current rate of £227.77 to £248.06 per week for 2019 to 2020 and increase by two per cent from £248.06 to £253.02 per week for 2020 to 2021.

Care England has welcomed the move but warned providers were facing big financial pressures due to coronavirus.

’Obtaining and retaining nursing capacity’ in care homes ‘is even more financially challenging’

Care England chief executive Professor Martin Green said: “This has been a long time coming, but we must be grateful to the DHSC for launching a review of the 2019/20 funded nursing care rate as a result of Care England representations.

“The 2019/20 funding nursing care did not reflect nurse costs in nursing homes and this was the reason behind the decision of Care England to push for a review.

"In addition, coronavirus has put a significant strain on care homes as they are responsible for the provision of care to some of the most vulnerable members of our society again demonstrating the absolute need for properly funded nursing care.”

He added: “Obtaining and retaining nursing capacity within the care home sector during ordinary times is tough, but the position now is even more difficult and financially challenging.”