NHS continuing healthcare is a package of care that is arranged and funded solely by the NHS where an individual has been found to have a ‘primary health need’. Individuals who may be eligible have a right to be assessed for NHS continuing healthcare, and this assessment is undertaken by healthcare professionals using a national framework. However, there is a lack of literature on continuing healthcare and its assessment process.

The aim was to review the literature on undertaking and providing continuing healthcare in terms of workforce roles, education and training, and competencies.

A literature search was undertaken to identify relevant literature on continuing healthcare. Primary searching of electronic internal databases and indices at the Royal College of Nursing and King’s College London was used, alongside a further database search and hand searching. A narrative synthesis of the literature was used to synthesise the findings, and a thematic analysis was undertaken to identify themes from the literature.

The literature search identified 100 articles, of which 84 were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria or provided insufficient details in the abstract. A total of 18 articles were included and examined in detail. Four themes were identified in the literature: complexity of care in transitioning care from hospital to home; different care models; importance of education of healthcare professionals; and role of continuing healthcare.

Healthcare professionals – including nurses – should receive further training in caring for older people, especially in relation to continuing healthcare. Since there is an increasing ageing population, there is an increasing requirement for continuing healthcare, and thus further research examining all aspects of this care is required.