The continuing healthcare checklist explained

The checklist is a short screening form. It does not decide eligibility. It only decides whether your relative gets a full assessment.

How it is scored

The checklist looks at the same 11 care areas as the full assessment (all except "other significant care needs"). Each area is marked A, B or C, where A is the highest need. A full assessment is required if there are:

• two or more areas marked A;
• five or more marked B, or one marked A and four marked B; or
• one A in an area marked with an asterisk: the four areas that can carry a "priority" level in the full assessment (breathing, behaviour, drug therapies and medication, and altered states of consciousness).

Well-managed needs count here too, exactly as in the full assessment.

If the checklist says no

• The outcome should be given to you in writing, with the reasons. Normally that means a copy of the checklist.
• You can ask the NHS area to reconsider, adding any information that was missed. It must give the request due consideration, although it does not have to complete a new checklist.
• If needs are expected to increase in the next three months, the checklist should say so and a date may be set to look again.

If the checklist says yes

Your relative should get a full assessment using the Decision Support Tool. Read how to prepare for the assessment meeting.

Source

• NHS continuing healthcare checklist and guidance (July 2022), paragraphs 19 to 25