Metastatic prostate cancer and Continuing Health Care

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My husband has metastatic prostate cancer which has spread to his spinal cord causing compression of the nerves, and it is in his bones. This is a very new diagnosis, all this happened with no symptoms until admission to hospital six weeks ago. The hospital are arranging for my husband to be discharged home and will provide an air bed, hoist and wheel chair. He cannot stand or walk and is completely incontinent. He has a catheter and has loose bowls throughout the day and night, needing him to be cleaned. 
I am coming to the point of my post…. The hospital will provide a two week care package with health care workers coming to hoist and clean him. It used to be a six week package but I have been given various reasons for why it is now only two weeks. The reasons include the since  covid to the cost to the nhs for care support. 
I feel that as the incontinence and lack of mobility are a direct consequence of the cancer and maybe the radiotherapy my husband was given, he also has awful sores, he should qualify for Continuing Health Needs arrangements. I have asked the hospital to apply and been called to attend a meeting with their discharge team. I suspect they will refuse my request. 
please would anybody with knows about  Continuing  Health care needs support let me know their experience of how they managed to get it or not. Thank you. 

  • Are there any local hospices near you? My husband collapsed while out walking exactly one year ago. No prior symptoms. He was told he had terminal bladder cancer in September. In October he was given radiotherapy to relieve his pain. It didn't, but he was unable to walk again after treatment. He has been bed-bound for 9 months. In and out of hospice 3 times over those months, as I struggled to cope at home. Community Carers could not control his pain. He was finally moved into a Nursing Care Home at the beginning of May. Because he went directly from the hospice to the Care Home (because hospices can only offer 'short term' care) he receives Continuing Health Care - no questions asked. I did not have to fill in any forms, the hospice did it all. I am so sorry for what has happened to you both - it's a terrible shock. If you need to speak to a friend - I'm here for you X

  • I took this from their web page as I only dealt with the Scottish side of things 

    “NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) in England is a package of ongoing care, arranged and funded solely by the NHS, for adults with a "primary health need" arising from a disability, accident, or illness. This means the NHS is responsible for funding care when an individual's needs are primarily due to their health, rather than social care needs. It's free at the point of delivery and can be provided in various settings, including care homes or the individual's own home”

    it might be worth checking out 

    beaconchc.co.uk  as they are an advocacy service to navigate chc. 

    Best wishes 

    Liz & OH xx

  • Hi Nancy Jayne, 

    thank you for your reply. I am so sorry you have had such a difficult time. I have gone through the CHC checklist and my husband meets many of the criteria….my local authority and hospital are very mean and run by political motivations. I am glad to read your husband got the care he needed. I will let you know how it goes in the meeting tomorrow. Thank you for being there for me. xx

  • Thank you for your kindness. I have done some research. The Scottish government and the Irish government have a different, more straightforward approach. The English government has a different approach and is more complicated…I will do my best to get the best care possible for my husband xx