What is Continuing Care?
Individuals whose combined needs require continuous specialist medical and nursing support will be appropriate for NHS continuing care.
NHS continuing in-patient care is dependent upon factors including:
- Complexity, nature or intensity of an individual’s health needs
- Frequency and predictability of the need for clinical interventions
- Need for regular specialist clinical supervision of a consultant or general practitioner (GP) with specialist geriatric training
Conditions requiring such care may include:
- Feeding by nasogastric tube or gastrostomy
- Regular suction
- Tracheotomy care
- Swallowing problems requiring speech therapy supervision
- Pressure sores requiring more than routine attention
Consultant led assessment by specialist geriatric medical services (as part of a multi-agency assessment) is essential before placement in NHS continuing in-patient care.
Appeals Against Decisions on Continuing Care
If you are to be discharged from continuing care, this will not take place until the complete care package required for your care is available. If you feel that you or your relative/friend should not be discharged from continuing care you have recourse to an appeals procedure. For further advice regarding this procedure please contact:
The Director of Public Health
NHS Lanarkshire
14 Beckford Street
Hamilton
ML3 0TA
Telephone: 01698 281313
Such appeals to the Director of Public Health should be lodged within 14 calendar days of notification to the patient of the clinician’s recommendation on the future health care.