Understanding CHC in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Cornwall's CHC landscape is defined by two intersecting pressures: an ageing population with high levels of chronic disease, and a vast rural geography that makes delivering and accessing care exceptionally difficult. The county has significantly higher rates of cardiovascular disease (8.5% vs 7.2% nationally), diabetes (6.8% vs 6.0%), and COPD (2.1% vs 1.6%) — conditions that frequently involve complex, health-led care needs that should qualify for CHC funding.
Yet Cornwall's CHC eligibility rate is among the lowest in England. This suggests either particularly strict application of the "primary health need" test, or systemic barriers that prevent families from reaching the assessment stage. The ICB's gross social care expenditure is 19% above the England average (£56,809 vs £47,758 per 100,000 people), which may indicate a local tendency to classify complex needs as "social care" rather than health-funded.
Geography creates practical obstacles at every stage. The CHC assessment team is based at Praze-an-Beeble near Camborne — a location that can be over an hour's drive from the north and east of the county. Care agencies are often reluctant to take on packages requiring 30+ minutes of travel each way (travel time is typically unpaid), leaving families in remote areas with fewer care options and potentially inflated costs that strengthen the case for NHS-funded provision.
Residents of the Isles of Scilly face additional challenges: limited on-island healthcare infrastructure means many conditions require helicopter or boat transfer to the mainland, creating distinctive coordination demands that should be factored into any CHC assessment. For families in far north or east Cornwall, the nearest acute hospital may be in Plymouth or Barnstaple — technically in different ICB areas — which can complicate the flow of medical evidence.
CHC approval statistics for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Standard-route assessments, 12 months to June 2026. How we calculate this
Approval rate
15.4%
National average: 17.7%
Assessments completed
397
61 found eligible
England ranking
18 of 36
18th lowest approval rate of 36 ICBs
Currently receiving CHC
205
20.5 per 50,000 adults
Local resolution requests
1
0 changed to eligible (0.0%)
Year-on-year change
+1.6pp
vs the previous 12 months
How Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly compares — 12 months to June 2026
Quarterly approval rate, last 12 quarters
Individual quarters move for reasons unrelated to how an ICB assesses — a backlog cleared in one period can swing the rate sharply. The 12-month figure above is the more reliable measure.
Ranked 18 of 36 ICBs on the 12-month rate · Source: NHS England
What this means
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly's 15.4% approval rate over the last 12 months sits broadly in line with the national average of 17.7% — roughly 1 in 6 people assessed through the standard route receives a positive decision. The evidence presented at the DST assessment remains the single most important factor within a family's control.
See how every ICB compares: the CHC approval rate ranking for all 36 ICBs.
How to apply for CHC funding in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is assessed and funded by your local Integrated Care Board. If you live in the Cornwall and the Isles of Scillyarea, here's what you need to know.
Step 1: Request a CHC screening
You can request a CHC Checklist screening at any time — in hospital, at home, or in a care home. Contact your GP or the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly CHC team on 01726 627800 to start the process.
Step 2: The Checklist assessment
A healthcare professional will complete the CHC Checklist with you. If you score positively on two or more domains (or one domain at "priority" level), you'll be referred for a full assessment.
Step 3: The full Decision Support Tool assessment
A multidisciplinary team will carry out a comprehensive assessment using the Decision Support Tool (DST). This evaluates your needs across 12 care domains.
Advocacy tips for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
These tips are specific to applying for CHC in the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly area.
action
Document the specific travel distances and times between the person's home and their healthcare services. In rural Cornwall, this can be a powerful piece of evidence demonstrating the complexity and health-led nature of care needs.
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If the person receives care from hospitals outside Cornwall (e.g. Derriford in Plymouth or North Devon District Hospital), make sure medical records from those trusts are included in the assessment. Cross-boundary evidence sometimes gets missed.
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Cornwall Council sends a representative to all DST assessments. Prepare for the social care perspective to be well-represented — you should ensure the health perspective is equally well-evidenced.
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Highlight the care agency recruitment challenges in your area. If professional care providers are unwilling to serve a remote location, this strengthens the argument that care needs are beyond what the local authority can reasonably provide.
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The ICB operates three Integrated Care Areas (Central, North & East, West). Check which ICA your area falls under, as verification panel schedules and local contacts may differ.
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For Isles of Scilly residents, emphasise the logistical complexity of healthcare delivery — mainland transfers, limited specialist access, and isolation all support the "primary health need" argument.
Hospital trusts in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
These are the main NHS trusts whose patients may be assessed for CHC in this area. If your relative is being discharged from one of these hospitals, ask the ward about CHC screening.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Royal Cornwall Hospital (Truro), West Cornwall Hospital (Penzance), St Michael's Hospital (Hayle)
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Community hospitals, Mental health services, Isles of Scilly services
Contact Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Phone
01726 627800Website
Visit website →Address
NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB, Part 2S, Chy Trevail, Beacon Technology Park, Dunmere Road, Bodmin PL31 2FR
Visit the official Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly CHC page →
Frequently asked questions
Why is Cornwall's CHC eligibility rate so low?
Cornwall's rate of 36.9 eligible people per 50,000 population is among the lowest in England. While the reasons aren't officially stated, contributing factors likely include strict local application of eligibility criteria, high social care expenditure that may absorb borderline cases, and rural access barriers that prevent some families from reaching the assessment stage. If you believe your loved one has been wrongly refused, you have the right to appeal.
How do I apply for CHC in Cornwall?
Contact your GP, hospital ward, or the Cornwall CHC team directly on 01726 627800 or email ciosicb.chc@nhs.net to request a Checklist screening. You can do this whether the person is at home, in hospital, or in a care home. Anyone can request a screening — you don't need a professional referral.
What if I live on the Isles of Scilly?
Isles of Scilly residents are covered by NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly ICB. The same CHC process applies, but the geographical isolation of the islands — including the need for mainland transfers for specialist care — should be factored into your assessment as evidence of healthcare complexity. Contact the CHC team at ciosicb.chc@nhs.net.
My relative is treated at a hospital outside Cornwall. Can they still apply for CHC here?
Yes. CHC eligibility is based on where the person is registered with a GP, not which hospital treats them. If they're registered with a Cornwall GP, the Cornwall ICB handles their CHC assessment. Make sure to gather medical evidence from all hospitals involved in their care, including out-of-area trusts like Derriford (Plymouth) or North Devon.