West Norfolk CCG has been using a locally-devised screening process, called the “5Qs test”, which effectively means a higher proportion of patients do not receive an official assessment for NHS funded continuing healthcare.
By law, patients with complex long term conditions are entitled to free social care funded by the NHS, so long as they are assessed as having a primary medical care need under the official CHC process.
An expert in CHC cases told HSJ that West Norfolk’s test is “significantly flawed”, because it screens out some patients who should be eligible for an official assessment.
Full Story: HSJ, 3rd Jnauary 2019