Law Change to Provide Thousands More With Access to Personal Health Budgets

One hundred thousand more people who use wheelchairs or need support for ongoing mental health problems will soon have the right to a personal health budget, providing them with greater choice and control when managing their own health and care.

Minister for Care, Caroline Dinenage has laid legislation in parliament that from Monday 2 December, everyone eligible for an NHS wheelchair and people who require aftercare services under section 117 of the Mental Health Act, will have more control over decisions made about their care and choice of wheelchair.

Personal health budgets are planned and agreed between individuals and clinicians, giving people greater choice, flexibility and control over their health and care support.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said:

“Everyone deserves the right to make decisions about their care and health and care should be centred around each and every one of us, not a one size fits all approach.

“Our NHS Long Term Plan has personalised care at its core. This important piece of legislation puts the power back in the hands of more people, transforming the wellbeing and quality of life for thousands, while also reducing distressing and avoidable hospital trips.”

Minister for Care Caroline Dinenage said:

“I’ve seen for myself how personal health budgets are giving people a new lease of life, opening up possibilities to let them live their lives full. This extension of legal rights will give many more people independence, a say in how they’re cared for, improving their experiences while ensuring value for money for taxpayers.

“This is an important step in our NHS Long Term Plan’s ambition to see personalised care become the norm for thousands more across the country.”

The NHS recently set out its ambitions for the delivery of personalised care as part of the Long Term Plan which can be viewed here www.england.nhs.uk/