An interim increase of 40% for Funded Nursing Care (FNC) has been announced by the Department of Health. The increase, which has been backdated to 1st April, brings the weekly amount to £156.25 per week, up from the current amount of £112.
An independent review had been carried out by Mazars LLP and their recommendation to the Department of Health was the amount that has been awarded.
Cautious Optimism
Obviously this announcement is very welcome and good news for nursing homes, but in the detail there is a warning that: “the new rate is being paid on an interim basis while further work is done to review the element of the rate for agency nursing staff (which could lead to a reduction to the rate from 1 January 2017) and to consult on introducing regional variation from April 2017.”
Lobbying Works
A great deal of lobbying was carried out by the national trade associations and I think this shows that lobbying can produce excellent results.
There is clearly more work going on now in the Department of Health so if you have anything to contribute to decisions that are going to be made about this interim award you can write to the new Minister:
David MowatParliamentary Under Secretary of State for Community Health and CareDepartment of HealthRichmond House79 WhitehallLondon SW1A 2NS
The announcement can be read in full by clicking here: NHS- funded nursing care rate for 2016 to 2017
If you’d like to read the independent review that recommended the increase, click here: NHS Funded Nursing Care Review
