Enhanced Health in Care Homes (EHCH) is a proactive, integrated model of care which supports people who live in care homes. Requirements for the delivery of EHCH by Primary Care Networks (PCNs) were included in the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) for 2020/21, and are now being delivered across the country. Corresponding requirements for providers of community services were included in the NHS Standard Contract.

Through this service, every care home is now supported by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) in their aligned PCN. The MDT approach helps to support individuals with dementia and mental health conditions to access the right care when they need it. It improves care by taking a holistic view of mental and physical health and enables input from team members from multiple disciplines and service providers.

It is crucial for all members of the MDT to understand dementia and mental health conditions due to the prevalence of both disorders in care home populations.

Published: March 2021