Understanding CHC in Lancashire and South Cumbria
Lancashire and South Cumbria is geographically vast, covering six distinct health and care 'places': Preston and Chorley, East Lancashire, West Lancashire, Blackpool/Fylde/Wyre, South Cumbria, and North Lancashire. This geographic fragmentation means CHC assessment can be significantly delayed in remote areas. If you live in South Cumbria or North Lancashire, expect longer assessment waits and coordinate with your local hospital trust's discharge team early — rural cases often involve travel time between assessment locations.
The region includes some of England's most deprived postcodes (East Lancashire, parts of Blackpool) alongside affluent coastal areas. Health inequality is stark, with respiratory disease, frailty, and mental health driving high CHC referral rates in East Lancashire and Blackpool. If your case involves deprivation markers (long-term unemployment, poor housing, substance misuse history), emphasize this in your evidence — it may strengthen arguments for 'primary health need' over social care responsibility.
Blackpool presents a unique CHC challenge due to transient populations, high numbers of older people in temporary accommodation, and care homes struggling with funding. If your case involves Blackpool or Fylde Coast, you may encounter ICB reluctance to fund CHC for people in temporary housing or new arrivals to the area. This is technically unlawful — CHC eligibility is not means-tested or residency-based — but it happens. Document residency carefully and be prepared to challenge this at appeal.
The NHS all age continuing care team is headquartered in Preston (01772 952610) but manages cases across the entire region, sometimes creating inconsistency. Some families report that South Cumbria cases receive different treatment than Preston cases — partly due to distance and partly due to different local authority integration. If you experience this, document it and raise it in appeals.
CHC approval statistics for Lancashire and South Cumbria
Standard-route assessments, 12 months to June 2026. How we calculate this
Approval rate
21.1%
National average: 17.7%
Assessments completed
2,030
428 found eligible
England ranking
30 of 36
7th highest approval rate of 36 ICBs
Currently receiving CHC
1,720
57 per 50,000 adults
Local resolution requests
19
7 changed to eligible (36.8%)
Year-on-year change
−4.1pp
vs the previous 12 months
How Lancashire and South Cumbria 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 30 of 36 ICBs on the 12-month rate · Source: NHS England
What this means
Lancashire and South Cumbria's 21.1% approval rate over the last 12 months sits broadly in line with the national average of 17.7% — roughly 1 in 5 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 Lancashire and South Cumbria
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is assessed and funded by your local Integrated Care Board. If you live in the Lancashire and South Cumbriaarea, 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 Lancashire and South Cumbria CHC team on 0300 373 3550 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 Lancashire and South Cumbria
These tips are specific to applying for CHC in the Lancashire and South Cumbria area.
action
Identify your local 'place' within Lancashire and South Cumbria early. The ICB operates six geographic hubs, and assessment standards can vary. Call 01772 952610 to confirm which hub manages your case and ask for direct contact details.
action
If you live in South Cumbria, North Lancashire, or West Lancashire, contact your assessment team 4-6 weeks before you anticipate needing CHC. These rural areas have longer assessment wait times and coordination gaps between teams.
action
For Blackpool and Fylde Coast cases, be especially careful to document residency and that you meet any local authority thresholds (if applicable to your case). Some Blackpool assessors have improperly refused CHC based on residency — this is unlawful but happens.
action
East Lancashire cases involving respiratory disease, frailty, or mental health may benefit from earlier CHC screening due to high local prevalence. If your GP practice is in East Lancashire, ask whether your CCG has a CHC fast-track pathway.
action
Ensure your evidence clearly separates health care costs (NHS responsibility) from accommodation and meal costs (which may be council responsibility but shouldn't block CHC eligibility). Coastal and deprivation areas sometimes conflate these.
Hospital trusts in Lancashire and South Cumbria
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.
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Preston Hospital, Chorley Hospital
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
Blackburn Royal Hospital, Burnley General Hospital, Pendle Community Hospital
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Fylde Coast community sites
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Mental health and community health services across 400+ sites
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Westmorland General Hospital
Contact Lancashire and South Cumbria
Phone
0300 373 3550Website
Visit website →Address
LSC Integrated Care Board, Level 3, Christ Church Precinct, County Hall, Fishergate Hill, Preston, PR1 8XB
Children's CHC
lscicb.southcumbriaandnorthlancashire@nhs.netFrequently asked questions
How do I contact the CHC team in Lancashire and South Cumbria?
Call the NHS all age continuing care team on 01772 952610 or email lscicb.contactus@nhs.net with your postcode. Teams cover six geographic places: Preston and Chorley, East Lancashire, West Lancashire, Blackpool/Fylde/Wyre, South Cumbria, and North Lancashire. Each may have different contact details and procedures.
Why might my assessment take longer in South Cumbria?
South Cumbria and North Lancashire are remote areas with smaller populations and longer distances between assessment centres. Assessment teams must travel further, which extends timelines. Contact your team early and ask for a realistic timeline — 28 days is the target, but rural areas often take 6-8 weeks.
What if I'm refused CHC because I'm newly arrived to Blackpool?
This is technically unlawful. CHC eligibility is not means-tested or residency-based — if you have a primary health need, you qualify regardless of when you arrived or where you live. If this happens, escalate immediately to the ICB's complaints team and contact Beacon CHC (0345 548 0300) for advice on appeal.
Does East Lancashire have different CHC standards?
No — all cases follow the same national assessment framework. However, East Lancashire has higher referral volumes due to deprivation, frailty, and respiratory disease prevalence. This may mean faster CHC screening but potentially longer waits for full assessment. Contact your local team to ask their current timelines.