NHS funded nursing care rate 2026/27: £267.68

The rates

The rates
	2025/26	From 1 April 2026
Standard rate	£254.06 a week	£267.68 a week
Higher rate	£349.50 a week	£368.24 a week

The higher rate only applies to residents who moved into a care home before 1 October 2007 and were on the old high band. Everyone else eligible gets the standard rate. DHSC said the increase is backed by the funding set at the latest Spending Review, and that around 80,000 people benefit.

What FNC is, and is not

FNC is a flat-rate NHS payment made directly to the care home towards the registered nursing element of a resident's care. It applies when a person lives in a nursing home and has been assessed as needing care from a registered nurse, but is not eligible for NHS continuing healthcare. The rate is the same across England. It pays only for the nursing element. Personal care, accommodation and other costs are met by the council, the resident or both.

The wider pressure on nursing care

The rate rise comes as councils report strain in the nursing market. In the ADASS Spring Survey 2026 (14 July 2026):

three-quarters of directors (75%) reported more people coming to adult social care who were, or previously would have been, eligible for NHS continuing healthcare;
84% said reduced investment in continuing healthcare by integrated care boards (ICBs) was adding to their risk of overspending;
over half reported less public capacity in nursing care for over-65s as providers shift towards self-funders (see our separate story on council fees).

For nursing homes, this points to more residents at the boundary between FNC and continuing healthcare. That makes accurate nursing assessments and reviews more important.

Workforce context

The NMC's latest register data (year to March 2026) shows registered nurse numbers growing by only 1.4%, with adult nursing at 0.8% (see our separate story on nurse supply). Any rise in FNC sits alongside a tight market for the nurses it pays for.

Questions people ask

What is the FNC rate for 2026/27?

From 1 April 2026, the standard NHS-funded nursing care rate in England is £267.68 a week, up 5.4% from £254.06. The higher rate is £368.24 a week.

Who gets the higher FNC rate?

Only residents who moved into a care home before 1 October 2007 and were on the old high band. Everyone else who is eligible gets the standard rate.

What this means for your service

Check your remittances. Payments for eligible residents should be at £267.68 a week from 1 April 2026, or £368.24 for anyone on the protected higher rate.
Reconcile your ICB payments monthly, and chase any underpayment early.
Keep nursing needs assessments up to date. FNC depends on an assessed need for registered nursing care. If a resident's needs rise, ask whether a continuing healthcare assessment is due.
Be clear with families. FNC covers the nursing element only. Explain what the weekly fee covers and who pays which part.
Use your real nursing costs in council and ICB talks. A 5.4% rise in FNC does not mean your nursing costs rose by the same amount.