Nursing Home Costs 2026: Average Weekly Fees by Region in England
Nursing home fees average £1,465/week nationally — around £215/week more than residential care. But the NHS pays £235.88/week toward nursing home costs through Funded Nursing Care — a contribution most families never claim.
Nursing home (avg)
£1,465/wk
≈ £6,348/month
self-funder market rate · England
After NHS FNC contribution
£1,229/wk
≈ £5,326/month
NHS pays £235.88/wk · no means test
vs. residential care
+£215/wk
premium for 24/7 registered nursing
Need residential or dementia rates? See all care types → · Dementia care costs →
Care home vs nursing home
When does someone need a nursing home?
A nursing home (formally a "care home with nursing") has qualified registered nurses on site 24 hours a day. A residential care home does not. The clinical transition usually happens when one or more of these needs emerges:
Complex wound or skin care
Pressure ulcers at stage 3–4, post-surgical wounds, or infected skin requiring sterile dressing by a registered nurse. District nurses can provide this at home or in residential care — but when needs become daily or complex, nursing home placement is typically required.
Medication requiring nurse administration
IV medications, subcutaneous injections, PEG tube feeding, or complex drug regimes that cannot legally be administered by care staff. Insulin management and some pain control regimes also fall in this category.
Monitoring complex health conditions
Unstable diabetes, heart failure requiring daily fluid monitoring, severe COPD requiring oxygen management, or neurological conditions where observations must be recorded and acted on clinically.
End-of-life palliative nursing
When someone moves into the last weeks of life and symptom management requires clinical nursing — syringe driver administration, pain management, or monitoring that family or care staff cannot safely provide alone.
The transition from residential to nursing care is assessed by a GP or community nurse, usually at the point of hospital discharge or when a residential home flags that they can no longer safely manage someone's needs. Once placed in a nursing home, NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC) should be registered automatically — but it often is not.
See your area
Nursing home fees in your region
Select your region to see the typical weekly cost, then calculate how long savings will last.
Average residential care in London
£1,456/wk
≈ £6,309/month
Nursing home costs by region in England 2025–26
Average weekly self-funder fees, sorted highest to lowest. The "After FNC" column shows the net cost if NHS Funded Nursing Care (£235.88/wk) is registered.
| Region | Nursing home | After FNC | vs Residential |
|---|---|---|---|
| South East | £1,695/wk | £1,459/wk | +£245/wk |
| London | £1,680/wk | £1,444/wk | +£224/wk |
| South West | £1,546/wk | £1,310/wk | +£197/wk |
| East of England | £1,530/wk | £1,294/wk | +£180/wk |
| West Midlands | £1,400/wk | £1,164/wk | +£194/wk |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £1,400/wk | £1,164/wk | +£285/wk |
| North West | £1,400/wk | £1,164/wk | +£300/wk |
| East Midlands | £1,370/wk | £1,134/wk | +£245/wk |
| North East | £1,160/wk | £924/wk | +£65/wk |
Market averages for self-funding residents · FNC rate: £235.88/wk (NHS England 2025–26) · Fees at individual homes vary · Not financial advice
NHS Funded Nursing Care: £235.88/week off the bill
NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC) is an NHS contribution paid directly to the nursing home — not the resident. It applies to any resident with a registered nursing need. There is no means test. No income limit. No savings threshold. Most families in nursing homes are entitled to it and never claim it.
| Component | Weekly |
|---|---|
| Nursing home fee (national avg) | £1,465/wk |
| NHS FNC contribution | −£235.88/wk |
| Net cost to resident | ≈£1,229/wk |
Annual saving
≈£12,266
if FNC is registered from admission
Means test?
None
applies regardless of savings or income
How to claim
Ask the home
request FNC assessment at placement
How FNC is registered — step by step
- 1Ask the nursing home or GP to refer for an FNC assessment at the point of admission or as soon as possible after.
- 2A registered nurse from the local Integrated Care Board completes the assessment — typically within 2–4 weeks.
- 3If the nursing need is confirmed, FNC payments begin — backdated to the referral date in most cases.
Who pays for nursing home costs — and when does that change?
Most families start self-funding. Four funding routes can reduce or eliminate the bill — the key is knowing when each applies.
Self-funding (until savings fall below £23,250)
You pay the full nursing home fee from savings, investments, or property. The means test threshold for 2025–26 is £23,250 — above this, no council contribution applies.
NHS Funded Nursing Care — £235.88/week off the bill
If someone has a registered nursing need, the NHS contributes £235.88/week regardless of savings or income. This applies from day one in a nursing home and is separate from the means test. Most families in nursing homes qualify but never register for it. Annual value: ≈£12,266.
Council funding — with a top-up gap
Below £23,250, the local authority contributes at its benchmark council rate. For nursing homes, the gap between the council rate and market rate is often £200–400/week — an ongoing family top-up even after council support begins. FNC is deducted from the total before calculating the council contribution.
NHS Continuing Healthcare — fees paid in full
If the primary care need is a health need (not social care), the NHS pays nursing home fees in full — no means test. Around 1 in 10 care home residents may qualify. Complex conditions with significant nursing needs have a higher chance of meeting the threshold than social care needs alone. Most families never request the first screening — a free NHS Checklist assessment.
Want nursing-specific regional averages and the FNC deduction shown? Nursing home cost calculator →
How long will savings cover nursing home fees?
Select your region above — the table updates to show how long savings last at your local nursing home rate versus the national average.
| Savings | Nat. avg£1,465/wk | London£1,700/wk |
|---|---|---|
| £50,000 | ~4 months | ~4 months |
| £100,000 | ~12 months | ~10 months |
| £150,000 | ~20 months | ~17 months |
| £250,000 | ~3 years | ~2y 7m |
| £500,000 | ~6y 3m | ~5y 5m |
Illustrative only — does not account for pension income, fee increases, or property. Use the calculator for a personalised timeline →
Could eliminate the bill entirely
NHS CHC is worth checking for every nursing home placement
People in nursing homes have higher-than-average nursing needs — which makes them more likely to qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare. The Funding Guide screens for CHC eligibility alongside FNC registration and the means test calculation.
- NHS CHC eligibility — your council area, your care needs
- Council means test — savings, property, and pension income
- NHS Funded Nursing Care (£235.88/wk) — registered if applicable
- Deferred Payment: whether property can fund care
Nursing home costs FAQs 2026
How much does a nursing home cost per week in England in 2026?
Average nursing home fees in England for 2026 range from £1,160/week in North East to £1,695/week in South East. The national average is approximately £1,465/week for self-funding residents. If NHS Funded Nursing Care applies, the net cost falls to around £1,229/week.
What is the difference between a care home and a nursing home?
A nursing home has qualified registered nurses on site 24 hours a day and can manage complex medical needs. A residential care home provides personal care only. Nursing homes cost on average £215/week more than residential care nationally. If someone has a nursing need, the NHS FNC contribution of £235.88/week partially offsets this premium.
Does the NHS pay for nursing home costs?
Yes — in two ways. NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC) pays £235.88/week toward any nursing home resident with a nursing need, regardless of savings or income. NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) pays the full nursing home fee if the primary need is a health need. FNC is relatively easy to claim and applies to most nursing home residents. CHC has a higher threshold but eliminates the fee entirely.
What is NHS Funded Nursing Care and who qualifies?
NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC) is an NHS payment of £235.88/week paid directly to nursing homes for residents with a registered nursing need. There is no means test and no income limit. Most residents in nursing homes qualify. To register, ask the nursing home or GP at the point of admission. FNC can be backdated to the referral date. Annual value: ≈£12,266.
Is a nursing home more expensive than a care home?
Yes — nursing homes cost on average £215/week more than residential care homes nationally (£1,465 vs £1,250). However, NHS Funded Nursing Care (£235.88/week) more than covers this national average premium — meaning self-funders in nursing homes typically pay a similar or lower effective weekly fee than residential care once FNC is applied.
Find care homes in your area
Browse top-rated homes by city — each page shows CQC ratings, Google reviews, and financial stability scores.
South East
East of England
West Midlands
East Midlands
North West
North East
Know your nursing home costs — and who could pay them
Regional averages show what self-funders typically pay. The Funding Guide checks whether NHS FNC, CHC, council funding, or Deferred Payment applies to your situation.
Self-funder market rate data · Not financial advice