Government launches nursing care funding boost to support workforce and ease hospital pressure

Care homes providing nursing care in the community will receive a funding increase of more than 5% from April, in a move the Government says will support care staff and help reduce pressure on hospitals.

The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed the uplift to NHS-funded nursing care payments will support services caring for some of the most vulnerable people, while also helping to free up hospital beds by enabling earlier discharge into community care settings.

Under the changes, the standard weekly rate per person will increase from £254.06 to £267.68 from 1st April, with the higher rate rising from £349.50 to £368.24.

The payments are made directly by the NHS to care homes providing nursing care.

Ministers said the increase will help strengthen community care provision and support staff working in nursing homes, with around 80,000 people expected to benefit from improved support.

The funding increase forms part of wider plans to reform adult social care and improve workforce conditions across the sector as the Government works toward establishing a National Care Service.

Alongside the rate increase, the Government has committed to providing an additional £4.6bn to local authorities for adult social care by 2028/29 compared with 2025/26 levels.

This includes £500m earmarked for the first fair pay agreement for care workers.