Direct Payments Set To Put More People In Control Of Healthcare, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 26 Oct 2009 - 13:00 PDT

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Personal health budgets are being piloted in primary care trusts until 2012 - direct payments will form part of these. Personal health budgets will help to create a more personalised NHS, by giving people more choice and control over how money is spent on their care.

The three ways that a personal health budget can work are:

- a notional budget held by a commissioner, such as their doctor or primary care trust;
- a budget managed on the individual's behalf by a third party, like a charity or User Trust; and
- or a cash payment to an individual and managed by them (a healthcare 'direct payment').

Trusts are already able to offer the first two options, which do not involve giving money directly to individuals. The consultation seeks views on the rules for making direct payments as well as proposals for setting up and evaluating direct payment pilots. It will run until 8 January 2010. The power to make direct payments is in the Health Bill currently before parliament and is expected to receive Royal ascent next month. This consultation will inform the regulations and guidance to make direct payments happen.

Care Services Minister Phil Hope said:

"There are some really inspiring stories already from people whose lives have been transformed by personal budgets - they get more choice and control over their own care. By making direct payments available in healthcare I know many more people will feel the benefits. We want to make sure we get this right and I want everyone to have their say to make sure we do."

Source
Department of Health, UK

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