The Department of Health and Social Care have today published figures relating to an increase in funding for care homes that provide nursing care. The announced increases include:
- Rate paid to care homes for NHS-funded nursing care (FNC) to rise by 5% for 2023 to 2024
- Standard weekly rate per person eligible for FNC will increase from £209.19 to £219.71 from 1 April 2023
The Department of Health and Social Care report states that the standard weekly rate per person provided for NHS-funded nursing care will increase by 5% from £209.19 to £219.71 from 1 April 2023 with funding paid by the NHS directly to care homes who provide nursing care. For the higher rate, it will increase from £287.78 to £302.25. This allows care home residents with specific healthcare needs to benefit from direct nursing care and services.
Existing funding
The UK government provides funding for care homes that provide nursing through various schemes and programs. The main sources of funding include:
- NHS-funded nursing care: The National Health Service (NHS) provides funding for nursing care in care homes for people who have been assessed as needing a high level of nursing care. This funding is paid directly to the care home to cover the cost of the nursing care provided.
- Local authority funding: Local authorities are responsible for assessing the needs of individuals and determining whether they are eligible for funding support. Local authorities may provide funding for individuals who require nursing care in a care home if they meet certain eligibility criteria.
- Continuing Healthcare funding: Continuing Healthcare is a package of care provided by the NHS for individuals who have complex and ongoing healthcare needs. This funding can cover the cost of nursing care in a care home.
- Personal budgets: Some individuals may be eligible for a personal budget, which is a sum of money provided by the local authority to enable them to arrange and pay for their own care, including nursing care in a care home.
Services provided by Nurses
Registered nurses provide a range of services to people who are eligible for NHS-funded nursing. The specific types of support can vary depending on the individual needs of the patient, but some common examples include, clinical assessments and monitoring, medication management, Wound care, pain management and end-of-life care. This can help to improve health outcomes for residents and reduce the likelihood of hospital admissions
In addition to these specific services, registered nurses also provide emotional support, education, and advocacy for patients and their families, helping to ensure that they receive the highest quality of care possible.
Government commitments
It is reported that the government is making available up to £7.5 billion in additional funding over 2 years to support adult social care and discharge – with up to £2.8 billion available in 2023 to 2024 and up to £4.7 billion in 2024 to 2025.
The government has said it is ‘committed to ensuring the adult social care sector is fit for the future and is improving the lives of people requiring care and support.’ This Spring will see a government plan published which will set out next steps for social care reform.
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