Continuing Healthcare Placements, policy consultation
Dear stakeholder,
Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge (BHR) CCGs has today (8 July 2019) launched an online survey to seek feedback on our proposed written continuing healthcare (CHC) placements policy.
Why are we introducing a written CHC policy?
In line with other CCGs across England, we intend to introduce a written CHC placements policy to support how decisions are made as to where patients receive their individual packages of care (e.g. at home or in a care or nursing home).
The proposed policy will ensure that CHC packages meet the reasonable requirements of individuals and take into account patient choice where possible, whilst also ensuring decisions balance the CCGs’ duties to the individual and to the wider population that it commissions services for. This will help to ensure consistency, fairness and transparency in the decision-making and appeals processes.
Who will the proposed policy apply to?
The proposed policy will apply to all new patients who are eligible for CHC, and in a few cases to existing patients whose care needs have changed considerably since their last CHC review. This could be, for example, if a person’s condition has deteriorated and they require significant extra care.
The eligibility to receive CHC will not change and all new and existing patients will continue to receive the most clinically appropriate care for their assessed needs. There will be a discussion about where the care is provided, although it may not always be possible for this to be with a person’s preferred provider or at their preferred location.
The policy will not apply to anyone under the age of 18 years or those who are assessed as needing ‘fast-track’ CHC (in other words, care which is provided to people who have a rapidly deteriorating condition and may be approaching the end of life).
How to have your say
We want to hear what you think of our proposed policy - your views will help us shape the final policy. Please read the consultation document and draft policy, and fill in our online questionnaire. These are available on our websites:
Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Groups
