How much does short-term care cost in the UK?

The national median short-term care cost in England is £56 per week, ranging from £0 to £42,000 depending on local authority. Costs vary by region — London and the South East are typically 10-15% above the national median, while the North East and Yorkshire are 10-15% below. See the full local authority breakdown below.

What's included in the short-term care cost?

Short-term residential or nursing care — typically used for respite, post-hospital recovery, end-of-life care or temporary placement during a crisis. ASC-FR reports a single weekly unit cost combining all support settings. The cost typically includes basic accommodation/care, but may exclude additional services like physiotherapy, hairdressing, chiropody, or specialist diet supplements. Always ask the provider for an itemised quote and check what's covered before signing a contract.

Will my local council pay for short-term care?

Whether the council pays depends on a means-tested financial assessment. In England, if you have capital above £23,250 (savings + home value if going into residential care) you must pay the full cost yourself. Below this threshold, the council contributes on a sliding scale until you reach £14,250 in capital, when they pay the full assessed cost.

Where is short-term care lower-cost in the UK?

Based on the latest NHS England ASC-FR data, the lower-cost English local authorities for short-term care include Birmingham (£8/week), Doncaster (£8/week), Stockton-on-Tees (£8/week), Middlesbrough (£9/week), Devon (£15/week). See the full ranking below.

How accurate is this data?

This data is sourced from NHS England's Adult Social Care Activity and Finance Report (ASC-FR), the official annual government statistical publication on adult social care unit costs. We refresh the data automatically each year when the new release drops. Per-local-authority figures are real observations, not estimates.

Short-term care Costs UK 2026

Short-term residential or nursing care — typically used for respite, post-hospital recovery, end-of-life care or temporary placement during a crisis. ASC-FR reports a single weekly unit cost combining all support settings. The national median is £56 per week, ranging from £0 to £42,000 across English local authorities.

National median

£56

per week

Lower-cost LA

£8

Birmingham

Self-funder guide

£67-£78

Estimated weekly range

What families may actually pay

Council baseline

£56

per week from ASC-FR returns

Annual equivalent: £2,912.

Self-funder guide

£67-£78

per week, using a 20-40% uplift

Mid estimate: £73 per week.

2.5-year exposure

£9,464

mid self-funder estimate

Council-rate equivalent: £7,280.

Use the council rate as the floor, then ask providers for the self-funder fee, inclusions and annual uplift policy. For nursing placements, the current England standard NHS-funded nursing care rate is £268 per week.

What to check in a care home fee quote

Lower-cost local authorities

Local Authority	Unit cost	Compare locally
Birmingham	£8 per week	See Birmingham →
Doncaster	£8 per week	See Doncaster →
Stockton-on-Tees	£8 per week	See Stockton-on-Tees →
Middlesbrough	£9 per week	See Middlesbrough →
Devon	£15 per week	See Devon →
Stoke-on-Trent	£16 per week	See Stoke-on-Trent →
Rochdale	£16 per week	See Rochdale →
Bromley	£18 per week	See Bromley →
Harrow	£19 per week	See Harrow →
Kensington and Chelsea	£19 per week	See Kensington and Chelsea →
Waltham Forest	£19 per week	See Waltham Forest →
Walsall	£19 per week	See Walsall →
Blackpool	£19 per week	See Blackpool →
Blackburn with Darwen	£19 per week	See Blackburn with Darwen →
North East Lincolnshire	£19 per week	See North East Lincolnshire →

All local authorities

Other care services

Residential care home Nursing care home Residential and nursing care

Care home data & tools

Care Costs Hub Cost Calculator Self-Funding Guide Find a Care Home Care Deserts Costs by Region Cost Guide Who Pays?