I am calling for an urgent and comprehensive review and reform of the NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) system.

While CHC is an essential provision for individuals with significant and complex health needs, the current system is fundamentally flawed and failing vulnerable people and their families. We have witnessed firsthand and are currently fighting a system that is not fit for purpose.

The core issues we have identified include:

Flawed Processes: The CHC process does not run smoothly. We've seen evidence not being gathered correctly or in a timely manner, leading to significant delays and unjust decisions.
Lack of Professional Understanding: Many healthcare professionals and social workers do not fully understand the CHC framework and assessment processes. This results in a huge lack of informed support for families at a time when they are most vulnerable.
Unnecessary Burden: The current system places an immense and unnecessary burden on individuals and their families, who are forced to navigate a complex, confusing, and often adversarial process while caring for a loved one.
The combination of these issues means that many who are eligible for CHC are not receiving it, and families are left to fight a broken system. This is a complete failure to support those who need it most.

Furthermore, we believe it is a grave injustice that people who have worked hard and paid into the system their entire lives are now being forced to sell their homes to fund extortionate care home fees. Why should someone like my grandmother, whose needs are in most areas high to severe with a continuous and fluctuating deterioration, be made to sell her home? This is not how a compassionate care system should operate.

We urge you to take immediate action to address these systemic failings. The CHC system must be made more transparent, efficient, and compassionate. We call for better training for professionals, clearer guidelines, and a process that ensures a fair and timely assessment for all.

Francesca.