Understanding CHC in South East London
South East London's geography masks profound demographic and health inequality. Southwark — home to 315,500 people — has only 8.77% of its population aged 65+ (versus 18.69% nationally), yet it hosts the UK's largest Latin American community and an estimated 8%+ LGBTQ+ population. The borough's median age is skewed young by London standards, driven by migration patterns and working-age economic opportunity. This means Southwark CHC cases typically involve younger people with complex, often acute health needs — strokes, spinal injuries, severe mental health crises — rather than the age-related chronic disease profile that dominates other London areas.
By contrast, Lewisham has nearly one-third of its population from ethnic minority backgrounds, predominantly Afro-Caribbean communities, with a main age band of 20–39. However, the borough has launched multiple specialist services for older adults (Age UK Lewisham and Southwark, Home Treatment for Older Adults, Proactive Ageing Well Service, PAWS) — suggesting shifting demographics or a local strategic focus on aging populations. Bromley and Greenwich also have older-weighted profiles, with higher dementia prevalence and related need.
The area's specialist mental health provision — South London & Maudsley (SLaM) and Oxleas — is exceptionally strong and internationally renowned. However, this strength can create a subtle bias: assessors familiar with mental health expertise may overestimate the adequacy of psychological support and underestimate medical complexity. Conversely, cases involving behavioural or psychological domains benefit from having SLaM assessments embedded in the evidence pack — these assessments are rigorous and carry weight.
South East London's place-based structure (6 place directorates, one per borough) means service experience depends on which borough team leads your assessment. Southwark and Lewisham teams handle younger, more acute cases; Bromley and Greenwich teams are more experienced with older-population, dementia-heavy needs. Cross-borough cases (e.g., a couple in different boroughs) require careful coordination to avoid assessment fragmentation.
CHC approval statistics for South East London
Standard-route assessments, 12 months to June 2026. How we calculate this
Approval rate
13.9%
National average: 17.7%
Assessments completed
787
109 found eligible
England ranking
12 of 36
12th lowest approval rate of 36 ICBs
Currently receiving CHC
659
19.2 per 50,000 adults
Local resolution requests
11
3 changed to eligible (27.3%)
Year-on-year change
−2.8pp
vs the previous 12 months
How South East London 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 12 of 36 ICBs on the 12-month rate · Source: NHS England
What this means
South East London's 13.9% approval rate over the last 12 months sits broadly in line with the national average of 17.7% — roughly 1 in 7 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 South East London
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is assessed and funded by your local Integrated Care Board. If you live in the South East Londonarea, 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 South East London CHC team on 0345 548 0300 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 South East London
These tips are specific to applying for CHC in the South East London area.
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If you're in Southwark, ensure your assessor understands acute health needs in working-age populations. Southwark has the UK's largest Latin American community and significant LGBTQ+ representation — flag any discrimination, social isolation, or stigma barriers in the psychological needs domain if relevant.
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In Lewisham, request culturally competent assessors familiar with Afro-Caribbean health contexts (sickle cell, stroke prevalence, mental health stigma). Standard DST templates may not adequately capture health narratives shaped by migration, racism, or historical healthcare discrimination.
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For complex mental health or behavioural cases, actively involve South London & Maudsley (SLaM) in the assessment. SLAM has world-class expertise and their reports carry significant credibility — explicitly request their involvement early.
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Evelina London (children's specialist hospital) means paediatric CHC cases in Southwark benefit from excellent specialist liaison. If your child is involved, request Evelina assessment input for complex cases.
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If your case spans multiple boroughs (e.g., person cared for in one borough but registered GP in another), flag the coordination risk upfront. Request a single lead assessor for the primary place, with satellite input from the secondary borough team.
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South East London's ICB head office is at 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2TZ. This is where to escalate if borough-level service isn't responsive.
Hospital trusts in South East London
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.
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Guy's Hospital (London Bridge), St Thomas' Hospital (Waterloo), Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield (specialist heart/lung)
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
King's College Hospital (Denmark Hill, Southwark)
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Woolwich), University Hospital Lewisham
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Mental health and specialist services
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Community mental health services
Contact South East London
Frequently asked questions
How do I request a CHC assessment in South East London?
Contact your GP, social worker, district nurse, or care home nurse to request a Checklist assessment. Alternatively, contact your borough's NHS Continuing Healthcare Team directly (each borough has a dedicated team — find contact details via the South East London ICS website or the ICB head office at 160 Tooley Street). If Checklist screening indicates full assessment need, you're automatically referred to the multidisciplinary team.
What health conditions might qualify for CHC in South East London?
Eligibility is based on **care needs, not diagnosis**. Examples include: older adults with multiple co-morbidities (falls, infections, strokes, Parkinson's, delirium, dementia), people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, severe mental health crises, or profound depression. The assessment asks whether health needs are the **primary driver** of care (not social or family support). Younger people with acute health events (stroke, spinal injury, complex mental health) also qualify if health needs are primary and meet intensity/complexity/unpredictability thresholds.
What should I do if my GP or social worker won't initiate a CHC assessment?
You can **self-refer** directly to your borough CHC team — you do **not** require GP consent. Contact the ICB Head Office (160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2TZ) or your borough place partnership website to find the right team. You can also call **Beacon** (0345 548 0300) for independent advice on whether assessment is appropriate and help navigating the request. Document your request in writing (email/letter) to create an audit trail.
If I disagree with a CHC refusal, what's the appeal process?
**(1) Gather evidence:** Full DST copy, all care/medical records highlighting incorrect information, specialist assessments, care logs proving intensity/complexity. **(2) Local resolution:** Contact your borough CHC team within 6 months of refusal letter; request review of DST accuracy and completion process. **(3) If unsuccessful:** Request Independent Review Panel (IRP) from NHS England — england.londonchc-irp@nhs.net or 07900 712985. Submit all evidence within 6 weeks of IRP request. **(4) Timeline:** Expect 6+ months total. Nationally, around 15% of local resolution requests succeed (NHS England, Q3 2025/26); IRP success is typically higher when the evidence is strong.