NHS-funded nursing care: eligibility, rates and reviews

1. Ask whether the person may qualify

FNC can apply when a person lives in a nursing home, needs care from a registered nurse, and is not eligible for CHC. The assessment looks at nursing needs rather than income or savings. It does not normally pay towards accommodation, meals or personal care. A care home or NHS team may identify the need, but the person or family can ask the local NHS body to arrange an assessment. If care is being provided in a residential home without registered nursing, FNC will not usually apply; ask whether the level of care or placement needs reviewing.

2. Make sure Continuing Healthcare is considered first

CHC is assessed under separate national frameworks and can cover the full cost of an eligible person’s health and social care needs. FNC is a more limited nursing contribution. Ask the discharge coordinator, care home nurse or local NHS body whether CHC screening has taken place and what the outcome was. If needs are complex, change quickly or require significant clinical support, ask how to request a CHC review. Read the companion guide to NHS Continuing Healthcare for the assessment process and how to challenge a decision.

3. Understand the current England and Wales amounts

For 2026/27, the standard NHS-funded nursing care rate in England is £267.68 a week. A protected higher rate of £368.24 a week can apply to some people who were already receiving the higher level before the single band was introduced; it is not a new option that most applicants can choose. In Wales, the current FNC rate for 2026/27 is £201.74 a week. These rates are contributions towards nursing, not a promise that the whole weekly care-home fee will be covered. Ask for the current assessment outcome and the amount shown in the home’s records.

4. Check how the payment appears in the care-home bill

In England and Wales, the NHS pays the FNC contribution directly to the nursing home, rather than giving it to the resident as cash. Ask the home to show in writing how the payment is accounted for, which nursing services it supports, the remaining weekly fee and any later increases. Compare the contract and invoice so the family can see whether the contribution has been deducted or credited as expected. If figures do not match, raise it with the home and the commissioning NHS body before agreeing to a revised fee.

5. Know that the other nations use different arrangements

Scotland does not use the same England-and-Wales FNC scheme. Following an assessment, councils make free personal-care and free nursing-care payments for eligible people in care homes; for 2026/27 the weekly figures are £260.30 for personal care and £117.10 for nursing care. In Northern Ireland, the Health and Social Care Trust assesses and arranges nursing support under local HSC arrangements; it is not the same system as NHS FNC in England. Ask the relevant council, NHS board or Trust which assessment applies to the person’s placement and how the contribution is treated in their charges.

6. Keep reviews and reassessment on the agenda

Nursing needs can change after illness, a fall, a new diagnosis or recovery from hospital. Keep copies of care plans, nursing notes, hospital discharge information and correspondence about funding. Ask the care home or NHS team who is responsible for arranging a review and how to raise a concern if needs have increased. A person who is not eligible for CHC now can ask for reassessment if circumstances materially change. If the person or family disagrees with an FNC eligibility decision or the way a payment is applied, request the written reasons and use the nation-specific review or complaint route.

Common questions