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NHS Care Funding Secret: Whistleblower Exposes Flaws
7 Feb
Summary
- Only 17% of NHS continuing healthcare applications are approved.
- Families wrongly denied funding pay tens of thousands themselves.
- A whistleblower reveals systemic unfairness and lack of compassion.
NHS continuing healthcare funding, intended for those needing care home or home carer support, is not means-tested but is approved for only 17% of applicants according to NHS England data. Families wrongly denied this support often face crippling costs, sometimes paying hundreds of thousands of pounds themselves. A whistleblower reveals firsthand accounts of a "categorically unfair" system, characterized by a lack of compassion and bureaucratic hurdles.
The assessment process, ideally involving a nurse and social worker, appears to be a postcode lottery, with approval rates varying significantly between NHS areas. This downward trend in awards is attributed to pressure on NHS budgets for savings. The appeal process, though available, is described as daunting, with many families giving up before or during it.
Appeals panels sometimes reveal that families weren't properly informed about initial meetings. A common oversight is discounting the unwritten care provided by family members, leading to decisions of "no evidence of serious care needs." The system's complexity and inherent conflicts of interest, where budget holders also drive quality control, are cited as major flaws that let down those most in need.
