The Department of Health introduced the policy document 'The National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care' in 2007 to establish a consistent and standardised guide to implementing the delivery of continuing care.
Continuing care is care provided over an extended period of time, to a PERSON aged 18 or over, to meet physical or mental health needs that have arisen as a result of disability, accident or illness.
Further clarification can be found at the Department of Health websites:
In order to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the Framework, the Department of Health has introduced a mandatory collection which requires an annual figure to report the provision of NHS FUNDED NURSING CARE, at the end of the REPORTING PERIOD.
The NHS Funded Nursing Care Annual Central Return Data Set should be submitted centrally via the Omnibus system maintained by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.
Further information can be found on the Health and Social Care Information Centre website.