NHS-funded nursing care to rise from 1 April 2023

The Department of Health and Social Care has announced that the standard rate they will pay for NHS-funded nursing care (FNC) is to rise by 5%, from £209.19 to £219.71 per week from 1 April 2023.

FNC is the contribution paid by the NHS toward the costs of a place in a care home with nursing for eligible people assessed as needing the help of a registered nurse. Tens of thousands of people in the UK receive FNC.

The higher rate of NHS-funded nursing care will also increase by 5%, from £287.78 to £302.25. This allows care home residents with specific healthcare needs to benefit from direct nursing care and services.

The uplift for the 2023 to 2024 financial year is based on adult social care data which is quality assured and independently verified. The government is making available up to £7.5 billion in additional funding over two years to support adult social care and discharge – with up to £2.8 billion available in 2023 to 2024 and up to £4.7 billion in 2024 to 2025.

Dan Harbour, Managing Director of Beacon, said:

“We recommend that people highlight the new FNC rate to the Manager of your nursing home, and check your bills to make sure the increase is reflected from 1 April.

 

Though this increase is not in line with current rate of inflation, it is in line with the pay rise just agreed for NHS nurses. It is good to see this reasonable increase following consultation with the Department of Health and Social Care, which will go towards helping to ease the financial burden currently on the care sector.”

Click here to read more about the increased funding on gov.uk.

NB: FNC is not awarded to people who receive NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC), as they should have all their nursing care needs funded in the CHC package.

How Beacon can help

If you have any questions about FNC or CHC, please take a look at our FAQs.

If you need further assistance, you can contact us via our Talk to Us contact form, or by calling 0345 548 0300.

Photo courtesy of the Centre for Ageing Better age-positive image library.