NHS funded nursing care rates increase 1 April 2026
If you or someone you care for lives in a care home with nursing, there is a small but important change coming. New regulations signed on 3 March 2026, laid before Parliament on 4 March, raise NHS funded nursing care (FNC) rates in England from 1 April 2026. The weekly standard rate goes to £267.68 and the legacy high band to £368.24, as set out in the Statutory Instrument published on legislation.gov.uk.
Let’s make FNC clear. It’s a weekly NHS payment to care homes that are registered to provide nursing. It helps cover the cost of a registered nurse’s input - things like planning care, giving treatment, and monitoring health. It is not means-tested, and it’s paid to the care home, not to you directly. That means it should appear as a deduction on the bill if you pay fees.
FNC is different from NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC). CHC covers the full package of care when your needs are mainly health-related. Most people do not meet the CHC threshold. If you’re assessed and found not eligible for CHC but you do need registered nursing care in a care home, FNC is usually considered next.
Who qualifies in practice? You must live in a care home that provides nursing and have an assessment by the NHS showing you need care from a registered nurse. You do not need to prove income or savings. The assessment is coordinated locally by your Integrated Care Board (ICB), which replaced Clinical Commissioning Groups in July 2022.
What changes in 2026? The standard weekly FNC rate moves from £254.06 in 2025/26 to £267.68 in 2026/27 - about a 5.4 per cent rise. The high band increases from £349.50 to £368.24. The high band is a legacy rate that only applies to a small group of people who qualified under older rules; most new awards are at the standard rate.
What this means for your fees: because FNC is paid to the care home, your invoice should show FNC as a line that reduces what you (or the local authority) pay. If you already receive FNC, the new amount should flow automatically from April. If you’re newly eligible on or after 1 April 2026, your award should reflect the new rate from the start date set by the ICB.
How to get assessed. You cannot “apply” in a form-filling sense; instead, ask the care home manager, your social worker, or your GP to request an NHS assessment. The NHS will consider CHC first. If CHC is not awarded, the team should look at FNC. Keep notes of dates, contacts, and decisions - it helps if you need to question delays or ask for a review.
For students and new carers, here’s the quick read you can teach from: FNC is an NHS contribution towards nursing in a care home; it is not the full fee. It sits alongside means-tested social care, and separate from CHC. The NHS website’s social care guide explains this in plain language, which is useful for classroom discussion and case studies.
A worked example helps. Imagine a care home charges £1,500 a week for a nursing placement. With the new FNC standard rate of £267.68, the care home should show that amount as a deduction. The remaining £1,232.32 is then met by you (if self-funding) or split between you and the local authority depending on your financial assessment.
Timelines matter. The regulation comes into force on 1 April 2026. Awards are dated by the NHS decision for each person. If you think an assessment is overdue, ask for the ICB’s Continuing Healthcare/FNC team and request an update in writing. If you disagree with an outcome, you can use the review and appeals routes - ask the team to explain the steps and deadlines.
A note on where this applies. These rates relate to England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own arrangements and set different rates. If your relative lives outside England, check the relevant national guidance before making decisions.
Before you file this away, do three checks: confirm with the care home that FNC is being claimed where appropriate; look for the FNC deduction on April or May invoices; and if CHC is being considered, ask whether FNC will be put in place while you wait. These simple steps prevent overpayments and help you plan with confidence.