20th July 2016

40% increase for Funded Nursing Care (FNC), backdated to 1st April

The Department of Health announcement of a 40% increase for Funded Nursing Care (FNC), backdated to 1st April, has been broadly welcomed by the National Care Association.   Having lobbied hard on behalf of our membership and the wider social care providers of nursing care, it is heartening to see that our reasoned arguments have been acknowledged, and we know that providers will also see this move as an affirmation of the value of the services they provide.

We are still concerned that this is an interim arrangement at a time when the sector needs firmer and more sustainable commitments from the Department of Health. There is no indication of how long the ‘interim’ arrangement will be in place for, and some uncertainty that the award could be reduced for some residents after further analysis of the figures while further work is done to review the element of the Agency Nursing Staff rate.

Nadra Ahmed OBE, Executive Chairman of National Care Association said: ‘We would like to congratulate Mazars LLP on their review which made the case for a 40% for NHS funded nursing care rates, to £156.25. Their support for the sector has to be applauded and we are pleased to have the opportunity to support them in further independent research of the social care market funding structures. This is the first step toward a longer goal which will ensure that the true cost of care is recognised for all providers supporting people with health and social care needs.