Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidelines he has issued to clinical commissioning groups to ensure that they accept and process without delay applications received from clinicians for fast-track continuing healthcare funding; and if he will make a statement.

Under the National Framework for Continuing Healthcare and NHS Funded Nursing Care (October 2018), a clinical commissioning group (CCG) must accept and immediately action a Fast Track Pathway Tool where the Tool has been properly completed.

The National Framework states that CCGs should have processes in place to enable Fast Track care packages to be commissioned quickly and it is not appropriate for individuals to experience delay in the delivery of their care package while concerns over the use of the Fast Track Pathway Tool are resolved.

NHS England is responsible for holding CCGs to account if they are not following the National Framework.