DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ADVICE NOTE ON NURSING CARE BANDS

Published 13 August 2008

Gateway reference 10392

This note confirms the annual increase in the level of the NHS contribution towards the costs of a place in a care home with nursing for those people assessed as requiring the help of a registered nurse.

Since the introduction of the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care, there are effectively two rates:

• the standard rate £101 per week

• the ‘higher rate’ £139 per week

When NHS-funded nursing care was introduced in October 2001, we made a commitment to regularly reassess the payment attached to the banding. This commitment was repeated in the national Framework last year.

These increases are, once again, in line with the increases in nurses’ pay, which is 2.75 per cent for 2008/09.

From 1 April 2008, for eligible care home residents:

• the standard rate will increase from £101 to £103.80

• the high band will increase from £139 to £142.80 per week