An independent review of NHS Continuing Care has been published, making a number of recommendations to improve the way this form of long-term care is provided.
Health Secretary Alex Neil has welcomed the recommendations from the expert group and committed the Scottish Government to work with health boards and COSLA to develop new guidance on the role of Continuing Care, to be implemented by April 2015.
NHS Continuing Healthcare is a package of health care that is arranged and fully funded by the NHS where someone has been assessed as having unpredictable and very high level clinical care needs.
A central recommendation made in the review is that in future Continuing Care status should continue to be determined by clinicians, but the decision must be focused on whether the on-going care required can only be provided safely and effectively in a hospital.
This reform to NHS Continuing Care will ensure that patients who require this acute level of clinical care will receive it in an appropriate hospital setting.
The Government has confirmed the 400 patients currently receiving NHS Continuing Healthcare outside hospital will not be affected, and will continue to have their accommodation costs met.
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