Leaving Hospital? Here's How to Find the Right Care in Birmingham
Free, independent guidance for families and NHS staff navigating care home placement after a hospital stay in Birmingham.
Could the NHS Pay for All Care Home Fees?
NHS Continuing Healthcare can cover 100% of care costs with no means test. Many families don't know this exists. Get our free CHC Family Guide to find out if your relative could be eligible.
Understanding Hospital Discharge in Birmingham
If you or a loved one is being discharged from hospital in Birmingham, this guide explains the process and points you to local support services.
When hospital staff confirm someone is "medically fit for discharge", it means their acute treatment has finished. They may still be recovering, but that recovery is better suited to a care home or home with support rather than a hospital bed.
Discharge in Birmingham involves the hospital team, Birmingham City Council adult social care, your family, and care providers. You will typically need to make decisions within a few days, which can feel rushed.
Options may include care home placement, home care, or intermediate care. You have the right to be involved in these decisions and to ask for more time if needed.
How Care is Funded in Birmingham
Care home fees in England are funded through three main routes. Understanding which applies to your Birmingham situation is important.
Self-funded care
If you have savings above £23,250 (or own property), you'll usually be expected to pay for your own care. You can choose any care home in Birmingham or beyond, and negotiate fees directly with them.
Local authority funded care
If your savings are below £23,250, your local council will do a means test and may fund some or all of your care. The council sets a rate they'll pay, and you may need to pay a "top-up" if the home you want charges more than this rate. Contact details for Birmingham council are below.
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
If your relative has complex or intense health needs, the NHS may fund all their care through CHC. There's no means test, no savings limit, and no contribution from you. Many families don't know this option exists.
It's common to feel worried about cost at this stage. Take time to understand which route applies to you, and don't be rushed into decisions you're not ready for.
NHS Continuing Healthcare Explained
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) fully funds care for people with complex ongoing health needs. If eligible, the NHS pays all care costs wherever care is delivered.
CHC eligibility depends on health needs, not diagnosis. Assessment covers mobility, nutrition, continence, behaviour, cognition, and psychological factors. A primary health need may mean full NHS funding.
The process starts with a checklist and may progress to a full Decision Support Tool assessment. You have the right to participate and to request a CHC assessment.
Many families do not know CHC exists. If you think your relative might have complex health needs, ask the hospital discharge team about a CHC assessment. You can also request one yourself.
Questions to Ask Care Homes in Birmingham
There are 278 care homes in Birmingham, so you have options. When visiting care homes in Birmingham under time pressure, prioritise these questions.
Can you accommodate [specific medical needs]?
Be specific about medication, oxygen, catheter care, PEG feeding, or any other requirements.
How quickly can you admit?
Some homes can admit within 24-48 hours if there's a bed available.
What are your fees, and are they fixed or variable?
Ask whether the fee might increase if care needs change.
What's your latest CQC rating and report?
Look for homes rated Good or Outstanding, and read the full report on cqc.org.uk
Who will be my relative's named nurse or key worker?
Find out who you can contact with questions or concerns.
Can I visit at any time, and can my relative go out?
Understand the home's policy on visiting and trips out.
If possible, visit in person before deciding. If time doesn't allow, ask to speak to the manager on the phone and trust your instincts.
Other Support Available in Birmingham
A care home is one option, but Birmingham offers other forms of support after hospital discharge.
- Reablement services: short-term intensive support (usually free for up to 6 weeks) to help someone regain skills and independence at home
- Intermediate care: a temporary placement in a care facility or support at home while recovering
- Community nursing: district nurses who visit at home for medical care like wound dressing or medication management
- Home care packages: carers visiting at home to help with washing, dressing, meals, and medication
- Occupational therapy: assessment and equipment to make the home safer (grab rails, shower seats, raised toilet seats)
- Falls prevention services: physiotherapy and strength exercises to reduce the risk of further falls
Speak with the discharge team and Birmingham City Council about alternatives. Contact details are below.
Benefits and Financial Support
If your relative is self-funding care, make sure they're claiming any benefits they're entitled to:
- Attendance Allowance: £72.65 or £108.55 per week (2025/26 rates) for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care
- Council Tax exemption or discount: available if your relative's home is empty because they're in a care home
- Pension Credit: tops up income if it's below £218.15 per week (2025/26)
Check eligibility at gov.uk/browse/benefits
Care Cost Estimator
Average weekly cost in West Midlands
Based on regional averages.
Source: Laing Buisson 2025 via PayingForCare.org
Care Homes in Birmingham
CQC Ratings
Care Types
Local Contacts
Hospitals
Council
Birmingham City Council
Out of Hours Emergency
Support Organisations
Citizens Advice
Free, confidential advice on benefits, housing, debt and more
Age UK
National helpline: 8am-7pm, 365 days a year
Ask to be connected to your nearest local branch for face-to-face support
Need to speak to a specific team? Many specialist services (discharge coordinators, IMCA advocates, hospice at home teams) don't publish direct numbers. Call the main hospital switchboard or council line and ask to be connected to the service you need.