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Continuing care

Practical Commissioning's jargon buster explains what the term 'continuing care' means

Continuing care

Continuing care is the general term used to refer to care provided over an extended period of time to a person aged 18 or over to meet physical or mental health needs which have arisen as the result of disability, accident or illness.

A ‘package' of continuing care that is arranged and funded by the NHS is known as ‘NHS continuing care'.

NHS Continuing Healthcare packages can include

- care home accommodation fees

- nursing care by a registered nurse

- Care by a non-registered nurse eg care assistant

- Specialist medical equipment

- Palliative care

- Personal/social care, such as help with washing and feeding

- Respite health care (source cheselden.co.uk)

It remains to be seen who will commission continuing healthcare services when GP commissioners take over from PCTs in 2013.