Understanding CHC in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester's CHC system is fragmented by design — each borough (Manchester, Salford, Trafford, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, and Wigan) has its own CHC locality team and sometimes operates under slightly different procedures. This fragmentation can work in families' favour (different teams may have different case law knowledge) but more often leads to confusion about jurisdiction, inconsistent assessment standards, and unexpected delays when cases cross borough boundaries.
The largest acute provider, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), dominates discharge planning and CHC screening. MFT's size means that hospital discharge CHC cases are well-documented and screened rigorously — but also that the volume is enormous, and cases can get lost. If you're discharged from an MFT hospital, request written confirmation of CHC screening within 48 hours of discharge. Many families find that verbal assurances are forgotten in the handover between hospital and community teams.
Manchester city centre and Salford areas have higher concentrations of complex health needs driven by older age profiles, deprivation, and substance misuse-related conditions. This means higher CHC referral density in these areas. If you live in central Manchester, Salford, or Wigan, your CHC assessment may be faster (more routine cases, established teams) or slower (higher demand) — timing is unpredictable and varies by month. Always ask your locality team for current wait times before submitting evidence.
A critical issue in Greater Manchester is the boundary between CHC and local authority-funded care, particularly around mental health, learning disabilities, and supported housing. Several judicial reviews have questioned the ICB's decisions to allocate costs to the council rather than NHS. If your case involves mental health or learning disability, document this precisely in your evidence and be prepared to challenge narrow NHS definitions of 'health need'.
CHC approval statistics for Greater Manchester
Standard-route assessments, 12 months to June 2026. How we calculate this
Approval rate
27.8%
National average: 17.7%
Assessments completed
1,430
398 found eligible
England ranking
34 of 36
3rd highest approval rate of 36 ICBs
Currently receiving CHC
1,499
28.7 per 50,000 adults
Local resolution requests
27
10 changed to eligible (37.0%)
Year-on-year change
−0.4pp
vs the previous 12 months
How Greater Manchester 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 34 of 36 ICBs on the 12-month rate · Source: NHS England
What this means
Greater Manchester found 27.8% of people assessed through the standard route eligible over the last 12 months — 10.1 percentage points above the national average of 17.7%. That is encouraging, but a rate is an average across hundreds of cases. Individual outcomes still turn on the evidence presented at the Decision Support Tool assessment.
See how every ICB compares: the CHC approval rate ranking for all 36 ICBs.
How to apply for CHC funding in Greater Manchester
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is assessed and funded by your local Integrated Care Board. If you live in the Greater Manchesterarea, 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 Greater Manchester CHC team on 0161 625 8211 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 Greater Manchester
These tips are specific to applying for CHC in the Greater Manchester area.
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Identify your borough and CHC locality team first — Greater Manchester has 10 separate teams. Contact gmicb.contactus@nhs.net or call 0161 625 8211 with your postcode to get direct contact details for your locality.
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If discharged from a hospital (especially MFT), request written CHC screening confirmation in writing within 48 hours. Hospital discharge teams often screen verbally and then claim no recall when questioned later.
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For mental health or learning disability cases, be exceptionally clear about which costs are health-based (NHS) versus social care (council). Many Greater Manchester rejections turn on this boundary — judicial reviews suggest the ICB has been too restrictive in its definitions.
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Expect variation between borough teams. If your case is rejected, ask for a comparison of similar cases in neighbouring boroughs (via Freedom of Information). Inconsistency is a strong grounds for appeal.
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Consider joint working with your local authority children's or adult social care team. In Greater Manchester, DHSCs and councils sometimes contest ICB decisions in writing, which strengthens appeals.
Hospital trusts in Greater Manchester
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.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT)
Manchester Royal Hospital, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Wythenshawe Hospital, Trafford General Hospital
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Stepping Hill Hospital
Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Royal Oldham Hospital, Fairfield General Hospital, Royal Rochdale Hospital
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
Bolton Hospital
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Tameside Hospital, Glossop community sites
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Multiple mental health units across 5 boroughs
Contact Greater Manchester
Phone
0161 625 8211Website
Visit website →Address
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board, Unit 4, 55 Newton Street, Manchester, M1 1FT
Frequently asked questions
Which CHC team handles my case in Greater Manchester?
Each of Greater Manchester's ten boroughs has its own CHC team. Your team depends on your GP registration or your address. Contact gmicb.contactus@nhs.net or call 0161 625 8211 with your postcode to be routed to the correct team. Teams cover: Manchester, Salford, Trafford, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, and Wigan.
How long does CHC assessment take in Greater Manchester?
Wait times vary by locality and current demand. Central Manchester and Salford often have higher referral volumes, which can extend assessment time. The target is 28 days from DST completion to decision, but many localities fall short. Contact your locality team directly to ask their current wait time before you submit your evidence package.
What if I'm discharged from Manchester University Hospital?
MFT discharges should trigger automatic CHC screening. Request written confirmation of screening within 48 hours of discharge. If you're told screening was done but no documentation is provided, escalate to MFT's patient advocates or the ICB's complaints team. Many families find MFT discharge teams don't follow up on CHC screening.
Can I appeal a CHC decision rejected because of a mental health or learning disability boundary dispute?
Yes. Greater Manchester has seen several judicial reviews on this issue. If the ICB claims your mental health or learning disability support is 'social care' rather than 'health need', document this clearly and appeal. Consider legal advice — boundary disputes are technical and benefit from specialist knowledge.