Increase in care home nursing rate

The rate paid to care homes for NHS funded nursing care or FNC is set to rise by 5% for 2023-24 in England, the Department of Health and Social Care has announced. The standard weekly rate per person eligible for FNC will increase from £209.19 to £219.71 from 1 April 2023. For the higher rate, it will increase from £287.78 to £302.25.

The extra funding aims to reduce the pressure on hospitals, supporting the Government’s efforts to discharge medically fit patients into social care settings. But Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England says that the increase is “totally inadequate and does not keep pace with inflation".

The increased funding for care home residents with nursing needs will include those people living with learning and physical disabilities and those with mental health needs and various conditions associated with old age. The funded nursing care rate helps cover the costs of nursing care within care homes.

Today sees the DHSC publish its policy paper on adult social care reform, Next steps to put People at the Heart of Care setting how the Department will build on the progress so far to implement the vision for care and support set out in the People at the Heart of Care White Paper. We'll be reviewing the Department's policy paper assessing what it means for those working in the care home sector.