Understanding CHC in South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is grappling with significant CHC budget challenges. Unlike other regions, South Yorkshire has explicitly reported CHC cost inflation running above expectations, with CHC packages cited as a key financial pressure. This is important context for families — the ICB faces financial incentives to reject or minimise CHC approvals. Document this if you encounter apparent barriers to assessment or overly restrictive interpretations of 'primary health need'.
The region is split into four 'places': Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster, and Barnsley. Each has its own CHC locality team with separate email addresses and sometimes different procedures. Sheffield's team covers the largest population and sometimes has longer wait times; smaller places like Barnsley may be faster. Contact your specific place team early to confirm timelines.
Sheffield, Rotherham, and Doncaster all have older, postindustrial populations with high rates of frailty, respiratory disease, and mental health conditions. This means CHC referral volumes are high. However, high referral volumes don't always translate to faster assessment — they can create bottlenecks. Doncaster and Rotherham sometimes experience longer waits than Sheffield due to smaller team capacity.
Barnsley presents a unique local challenge: the place is geographically and administratively separate, which can create confusion about jurisdiction when cases involve multiple places. If your case spans two places (e.g., you live in Barnsley but are assessed by Sheffield hospital), confirm which place's CHC team will manage your case in writing.
CHC approval statistics for South Yorkshire
Standard-route assessments, 12 months to June 2026. How we calculate this
Approval rate
13.4%
National average: 17.7%
Assessments completed
1,610
215 found eligible
England ranking
10 of 36
10th lowest approval rate of 36 ICBs
Currently receiving CHC
999
40.9 per 50,000 adults
Local resolution requests
6
0 changed to eligible (0.0%)
Year-on-year change
−2.9pp
vs the previous 12 months
How South Yorkshire 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 10 of 36 ICBs on the 12-month rate · Source: NHS England
What this means
South Yorkshire's 13.4% 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 Yorkshire
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is assessed and funded by your local Integrated Care Board. If you live in the South Yorkshirearea, 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 Yorkshire CHC team on 0114 271 6000 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 Yorkshire
These tips are specific to applying for CHC in the South Yorkshire area.
action
Contact your specific place team directly — South Yorkshire has four separate CHC teams: Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster, and Barnsley. Email addresses are place-specific (e.g., syicb-sheffield.sheffieldchc@nhs.net). Request confirmation of which team handles your case.
action
If you encounter assessment delays or overly restrictive 'primary health need' definitions, note the ICB's reported CHC budget pressures in your complaint and appeal. This is relevant context — document it.
action
For cases crossing place boundaries, confirm in writing which team will manage your assessment. Boundary confusion has caused cases to be lost between teams — insist on clear jurisdiction.
action
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals is the largest acute provider. If you're discharged from Sheffield Teaching, request written CHC screening confirmation within 48 hours. Document all discharge communications.
action
For mental health cases, be clear about health-based needs versus social care. South Yorkshire has had disputes over learning disability and mental health boundaries — challenge restrictive ICB interpretations.
Hospital trusts in South Yorkshire
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.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Northern General Hospital, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Weston Park Hospital
Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust
Rotherham Hospital
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Bassetlaw Hospital
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Barnsley Hospital
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Mental health and specialist services across 4 places
Contact South Yorkshire
Phone
0114 271 6000Website
Visit website →Address
NHS South Yorkshire ICB, 197 Eyre Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 3FG
Frequently asked questions
How do I contact the CHC team in South Yorkshire?
Contact your specific place team. South Yorkshire has four teams: Sheffield (syicb-sheffield.sheffieldchc@nhs.net), Rotherham (syicb-rotherham.continuingcareroth@nhs.net), Doncaster (syicb-doncaster.chcdoncaster@nhs.net), and Barnsley (syicb-barnsley.barnsleycontinuinghealthcare@nhs.net). Or call the main ICB on 0114 271 6000 with your postcode.
What is the current CHC assessment timeline in South Yorkshire?
The target is 28 days from DST completion to decision. However, South Yorkshire faces budget pressures and high referral volumes, which can extend timelines to 6-10 weeks. Contact your place team directly to ask their current wait time before submitting evidence.
Why does South Yorkshire seem to reject more CHC cases?
South Yorkshire has reported CHC cost inflation running above expectations, which creates budget pressures. This can influence assessment rigour. If you're rejected, document the ICB's budget context in your appeal — overly restrictive interpretations driven by cost considerations are unlawful.
What if my case involves two different South Yorkshire places?
Confirm in writing which place's team will manage your case. Place boundary confusion has caused cases to be lost — insist on a clear decision and get it in writing from the ICB before submitting full evidence.