Judy Timson RGN

I provide support, advice and representation for our clients with ongoing health needs, particularly in relation to NHS continuing healthcare and complex hospital discharge.  In my former roles I have been a hospital discharge co-ordinator and a NHS continuing health care assessor.  I am uniquely placed to understand the pressures on our clients’ and to identify the key issues that need resolving.  I have also dealt with NHS continuing healthcare appeals and retrospective claims and have a good understanding of the level and type of evidence needed for these submissions.

We provide long term services to clients whose financial affairs we manage under either a Lasting Power of Attorney or a Court of Protection Deputyship Order.  The majority of these clients have additional support needs and receive a package of health or social care.  We recognise that our duties do not stop at financial accounting and to provide the best service to clients we need to consider all aspects of their lives.  I therefore provide clinical guidance to our legal team to ensure that we understand our clients’ needs and wishes so that we can advocate on their behalf to get them the necessary care.

I recently attended a NHS continuing healthcare assessment on behalf of our client, Tina. 

Tina receives support from our professional deputy team on a long term basis and I became involved in order to navigate the continuing healthcare eligibility process with her.

Due to the complexity of Tina's needs, there were over 8 different health professionals involved in the assessment meeting.

My experience as a Registered General Nurse and knowledge of the continuing healthcare process meant that I was able to highlight relevant parts of the eligibility criteria as they applied to Tina's circumstances.

Whilst each professional attending the meeting provided detailed knowledge of their work with Tina, I was able to highlight how these differing needs related to each other and present Tina's case from a personalised perspective.  This is something that I believe is often missed in assessments and can affect the eligibility decision.  On Tina's behalf, I was able to describe how her needs were primary "health" rather than "social care".  Following the meeting, the recommendation was made that Tina should be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare funding.