Guidance

NHS continuing healthcare decision support tool

Screening tool to help identify individuals who may need a referral for a full assessment of eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Published: 1 March 2018
• Last updated: 22 October 2026 — See all updates

Documents

NHS continuing healthcare decision support tool - guidance

HTML

Decision support tool (DST) for NHS continuing healthcare

MS Word Document, 114 KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@dhsc.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Decision support tool (DST) for NHS continuing healthcare

ODT, 78.9 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@dhsc.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Decision support tool (DST) for NHS continuing healthcare (accessible version)

MS Word Document, 89.1 KB

Decision support tool (DST) for NHS continuing healthcare (accessible version)

ODT, 51 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

Details

Helps all staff completing the checklist to be familiar with the principles of the national framework for continuing healthcare and NHS-funded nursing care.

A form for completion by the referring clinician is published alongside the guidance in Word and ODT formats.

• Last updated: 22 October 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 22 October 2026

     Updated the examples of healthcare professions noted in the 'Who can complete the DST' section.

  2. 20 October 2026

     Updated the NHS continuing healthcare decision support tool and associated guidance for ease of use and to improve clarity. The decision support tool is now presented as a standard version and an accessible version, both available in Word and ODT formats.

  3. 27 October 2022

     Added HTML, PDF, Word and ODT versions of the guidance and referral form, including accessible versions.

  4. 30 May 2022

     Updated to reflect changes to the national framework in 2022. Equalities monitoring questions brought in line with the latest NHS England patient level data set (launched in April 2022).

  5. 1 March 2018

     First published.