Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to reduce the growth in spending on NHS continuing healthcare without increasing the number of continuing healthcare patients who are placed in residential care facilities; and if he will make a statement.

Eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare is determined following a multidisciplinary assessment of needs as set out in the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care.

If an individual is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare and requires a placement in a nursing or residential care home this will be determined locally by the clinical commissioning group, in accordance with the National Framework.

The National Framework makes it clear that an individual’s preferences must be taken into account when agreeing the contents and setting of a care package.