Author and Publication
Author: Ben Slater, Registered Social Worker, Founder and Managing Director of Nellie Supports
Reviewed by: Kerry Slater, Director of Operations
Last reviewed: 20 July 2026
Citation
1. Department of Health and Social Care (2022) National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-framework-for-nhs-continuing-healthcare-and-nhs-funded-nursing-care
2. Department of Health and Social Care (2022) NHS Continuing Healthcare Decision Support Tool.
3. Care Act 2014, c. 23. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/contents
4. Mental Capacity Act 2005, c. 9. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/9/contents
Copywright
Copyright © 2026 Nellie Supports Ltd. All rights reserved.
This article is made available for general information, education and professional reference. It may be downloaded, printed and shared for non-commercial purposes, provided that it is reproduced in full, is not altered in any way, and is properly cited as the work of Nellie Supports Ltd. This material must not be edited, adapted, sold, republished, incorporated into commercial products, or used for commercial training, assessment, report-writing or advisory services without prior written permission from Nellie Supports Ltd.
This article does not constitute legal advice, clinical advice or a substitute for a decision-specific professional assessment. Where legislation, government guidance, court forms or external professional materials are referred to, those materials remain subject to their own copyright, licensing and re-use terms.
Abstract
This guide explains discharge to assess arrangements and how they interact with NHS Continuing Healthcare. It covers what the model is intended to achieve, the funding that applies during the period, why it is not NHS Continuing Healthcare, what should happen before the period ends, the risk of charges beginning without a Checklist, and how to protect the position.
Discharge to Assess and how it affects CHC
Discharge to assess gets people out of hospital quickly with short term funded support while their longer term needs are worked out. It is sensible in principle, and the risk sits entirely at the point where that short term funding ends.
What the model is
Discharge to assess moves a person out of hospital and into a setting where their longer term needs can be assessed once they have settled, whether that is their own home, a care home or an intermediate care unit. The reasoning is sound, since assessing away from an acute ward usually produces a more accurate picture of what someone can do.
The funding during the period
Support during a discharge to assess period is usually funded for a short defined period. That funding is not NHS Continuing Healthcare, is not based on an eligibility decision, and carries no ongoing entitlement. It is a bridge, and it expires. Understanding that from the outset avoids a very unpleasant surprise later.
What should happen before it ends
Before the period expires, the person's longer term needs should be assessed and the right funding route identified. Where NHS Continuing Healthcare may apply, that means a Checklist and, if the threshold is met, a full assessment. In practice this frequently does not happen in time, and the person moves onto a means tested route by default.
Where charges begin
The transition point is where the difficulty lies. When the funded period ends, the local authority may carry out a financial assessment and charging may begin, or the person may be asked to fund privately. If no Checklist has been completed by then, the NHS Continuing Healthcare question has effectively been skipped rather than answered.
How to protect the position
Ask at the start of the discharge to assess period how long it runs, what assessment is planned, who is responsible for arranging it, and whether a Checklist will be completed. Put the questions in writing. Requesting a Checklist yourself, early in the period, is the most reliable way to ensure the question is asked at all.
If the period has already ended
The question can still be raised. Request a Checklist now, and where charges have been applied during a period when NHS Continuing Healthcare should have been considered, raise that separately. Keep any correspondence from the discharge period, since it evidences what was and was not arranged.
Key takeaway
Discharge to assess funding is a time limited bridge, not NHS Continuing Healthcare. Establish at the outset when it ends and what assessment is planned, and request a Checklist early rather than waiting for someone else to raise it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is discharge to assess funding the same as CHC?
No. It is short term funded support while longer term needs are assessed, based on no eligibility decision and carrying no ongoing entitlement. It expires at the end of the defined period.
What happens when the period ends?
The longer term funding route should have been identified by then. In practice, charging often begins by default, which is why requesting a Checklist early in the period matters.
Should a Checklist be done during the period?
Yes, where NHS Continuing Healthcare may apply. Ask at the start who is responsible for arranging it, and request one yourself if nobody takes it forward.
Related NHS Continuing Healthcare pages
These links take you to the most relevant Nellie Supports service page and to the supporting guides that explain the surrounding process.
Speak to an independent CHC specialist
Nellie Supports prepares independent needs evidence for NHS Continuing Healthcare assessments, reviews and appeals across England and Wales. Our reports are written by registered social workers on a permanent employed team, with internal peer review before release. Call 0333 987 5118 or send an enquiry and we will talk through where you are in the process.