Local Resolution Submission & Attendance
NHS Continuing Healthcare Local Resolution Support
If NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding is refused following a Decision Support Tool (DST) assessment, families have the right to challenge the decision.
The first stage of the NHS Continuing Healthcare appeals process is known as Local Resolution.
This involves requesting that the Integrated Care Board (ICB) review the eligibility decision and the evidence used during the assessment.
Our Local Resolution Submission & Attendance service provides professional support in preparing and presenting a structured challenge to the CHC decision.
Understanding the CHC Appeals Process
Where a person is found not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, the decision can usually be challenged.
The appeals process normally follows three stages:
• Local Resolution with the Integrated Care Board
• Independent Review Panel (IRP) arranged by NHS England
• Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman review in exceptional cases
Local Resolution is designed to allow the ICB to reconsider the case before it progresses to the national review stage.
A well-prepared submission at this stage can be critical.
Our Local Resolution Support
Fixed Fee: £5000
Our Local Resolution service provides structured professional support in preparing a challenge to the CHC decision.
This includes:
✔ Detailed review of the completed Decision Support Tool (DST)
✔ Analysis of the domain scoring and supporting evidence
✔ Preparation of a structured Local Resolution submission
✔ Identification of evidence gaps and inconsistencies
✔ Representation at the Local Resolution meeting where required
Our role is to ensure that the person’s health needs and supporting evidence are clearly presented during the review process.
When Families Request Local Resolution Support
Families often request this service when:
• CHC funding has been refused following a DST assessment
• the scoring of DST domains appears inconsistent with the evidence
• important care records were not considered during the assessment
• they want professional support navigating the CHC appeal process
In many cases, families first request an Appeal Viability Review to determine whether pursuing a Local Resolution challenge is realistic.
Preparing Evidence for a Local Resolution Challenge
Strong CHC appeals rely heavily on clear and well-organised evidence.
Where necessary, families may request our One-Stop Evidence Pack, which compiles and analyses key documentation including:
• care assessments
• care plans
• incident reports
• medical documentation
• risk assessments
• provision analysis
This material can be used to support both Local Resolution challenges and Independent Review Panel cases.
Fixed Fee
£5,000
This service includes:
✔ Review of the Decision Support Tool and care records
✔ Preparation of a structured Local Resolution submission
✔ Evidence analysis and domain scoring review
✔ Representation at the Local Resolution meeting
✔ Advice on further appeal stages where required
Received a CHC Refusal Letter?
Many families contact us shortly after receiving a letter confirming that NHS Continuing Healthcare funding has been refused. At this stage it is common to feel uncertain about what the decision actually means.
At this stage it is common to feel uncertain about what the decision actually means.
A refusal does not necessarily mean that the person’s needs were fully understood or correctly assessed. It simply means that the Integrated Care Board has decided the CHC eligibility threshold was not met.
In some cases families later discover that:
• important care records were not considered
• DST domains were scored conservatively
• the overall complexity of needs was understated
• the Primary Health Need test was not applied correctly
These situations do not automatically mean an appeal will succeed.
However, they can indicate that the decision may benefit from independent professional review before the case is closed.
Before Starting a CHC Appeal
A CHC appeal can involve a significant amount of documentation and preparation.
For this reason, many families request an Appeal Viability Review first.
This allows the completed Decision Support Tool and supporting care records to be examined to determine whether a realistic basis for challenge appears to exist.
This review provides clarity on whether:
• the decision appears consistent with the evidence
• the case may be open to challenge
• pursuing the appeal process is likely to be worthwhile