Category: Topical

The detailed assessment was a meeting in the nursing home. It was another more detailed checkbox exercise and the necessary criteria were met which should mean a recommendation that the health authority is responsible for meeting all fees. The social worker present at the meeting supported that conclusion but the representative of the health authority who had never met the patient did not and reported to the panel that in her opinion despite the criteria being met there was not a primary health need justifying funding! A week or so later we received a letter confirming that the panel agreed that there should be no funding. They then initiated a peer review of that decision which was a paper exercise to which we could not contribute. Inevitably the peer review agreed with the panel’s decision and so we have now requested an independent review.

The purpose of these blogs is firstly to show that it is possible to obtain none means-tested funding for health care although very little publicity is given to this fact and secondly to demonstrate how difficult it is to pursue. Needless to say the courts have been involved about which more next. My hope is that other people who find themselves in the same position may find our experience helpful.

The artwork in Porto station is spectacular and informative. I would be interested to know of any other stations which may compare

Am I alone in thinking the Labour leadership process is flawed? I could pay to become a member and then have a vote. I may not be a Labour supporter and after casting my vote totally disengage from the party. The membership number,although quite large when compared with other parties, when compared to the number of Labour voters, is very small and the members may not reflect the views of the majority of potential Labour voters. A sudden surge in members occurs when there is a leadership election and it seems to me that this is in order to secure the election of a leader who may not be the preferred choice of the majority of Labour voters but of a faction of the party. Could this contribute to Labour losing elections?

View of Chipping Campden’s ”Wool Church” with some of the benefactors in the foreground! Also large producer of sprouts but pickers now difficult to find apparently.

In our case the review prior to discharge concluded that the criteria for a full assessment were met despite the fact that the social worker had never met the patient, and the health visitor had not seen her for nine months. The recommendation was for discharge to nursing care, detailed assessment and an opinion that continuing health care would be appropriate. The stay in hospital had been 3 months during which time we had had to continue to pay the residential home fees totalling approximately £10000. On discharge and pending the full assessment the health authority assumed responsibility for the ongoing fees for the nursing home. Details of the full assessment to follow.

Maybe keeping convicted terrorists still determined by a court to be a risk at the end of their sentence in prison..

More thought as to which Middle Eastern conflicts we become involved in. Were we right in Iraq, Syria, Libya ?

Avoiding anti semitism and Islamophobia and dealing with it wherever we find it.

Well it has happened and now Brexit starts. I sincerely hope that the people who expect to benefit do so. I already know that my family and many of my friends will be adversely affected and in some cases, me included, already have been. Maybe Britain as a whole, particularly the very rich, will benefit but I still can’t see how the majority will be better off either in my lifetime or within the lifetime of the currently young generation. I would really like to be wrong.

What would make us more secure?

How does the assessment for NHS continuing healthcare work?

There is a process staff must follow to decide your eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare. 

1. If you have ongoing significant health needs, there are times when NHS staff or a member of the social work team should consider whether you may be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare. 

These situations include:

• when you are ready to be discharged from hospital and your long-term needs are clear
• once a period of rehabilitation following a hospital stay has finished and it’s agreed your condition is unlikely to improve
• whenever your health or social care needs are being reviewed as part of a community care assessment
• if your physical or mental health deteriorates significantly and your current level of care seems inadequate
• when your nursing needs are being reviewed; this should happen annually if you live in a nursing home
• if you have a rapidly deteriorating condition and may be approaching the end of your life.

Important things to know about all stages of the assessment process:

• You should be fully involved and your views should be considered.
• You can ask a relative or carer to help and support you.

2. The assessment process starts with the completion of a checklist by a nurse or a social worker trained to complete it. The checklist identifies what your needs are and shows whether you need to have a full NHS continuing healthcare assessment.

If your condition is deteriorating quickly and you may be approaching the end of life, you may have a Fast Track assessment instead, which is a quicker process.

3. If you’re referred for a full assessment, evidence will be collected from all relevant health and social care professionals about your physical, mental health and social care needs.

4. A team of health and social care professionals will meet to look at this evidence and make their recommendations as to whether or not you’re eligible. You and/or your representative can attend and participate at this meeting.

5. Their recommendation is given to the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which is responsible for funding your care. Except in exceptional circumstances, the CCG confirms their recommendation. 

6. The CCG should write to you with the decision and explain the reasons for it.