More than 75,000 people will be better supported in the community
following an increase in funding for nursing care.
The government has announced a 7.7% increase in funding for care
homes providing nursing care in the community, which is tailored
to an individual's needs and health outcomes. This includes
administering medicines and performing procedures.
The funding will help reduce the pressure on hospitals by
preventing unnecessary admissions and supports the discharge of
individuals into social care settings to free up hospital beds.
The uplift for 2025 to 2026 means the standard weekly rate per
person provided for NHS-funded Nursing Care (FNC) will increase
from £235.88 to £254.06 from 1 April 2025, with funding paid by
the NHS directly to care homes which provide nursing care. The
higher rate will increase from £324.50 to £349.50.
Care homes play a vital role in our healthcare system, providing
specialist nursing care to some of our most vulnerable citizens.
The uplift follows the government's immediate
actions to improve adult social care, as part of the
Plan for Change, to help create a sustainable care system for the
future. This includes making available £3.7 billion to local
authorities, and providing a total of £172 million in additional
funding for the Disabled Facilities Grant to deliver around
15,000 new adaptations to help disabled people live safely and
independently in their own homes.
In the longer-term, Baroness is leading an independent
commission to develop recommendations for a National Care Service
which will provide high quality care for everybody who needs it
and rebuild the sector so that it is fit for the future.
