Personal Health Budgets

The process of providing personal health budgets in NHS Continuing Healthcare fits well with the case management approach, as set out in the National framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded nursing care. This is explained in this animated film, which was developed by the national team to help professionals working in this area and explains what to expect and the role of your case manager:

The right to have a personal health budget applies to people who are:

• adults receiving NHS continuing healthcare (NHS-funded long-term health and personal care provided outside hospital)
• children receiving NHS continuing healthcare

From 2 December 2019, the right to have a Personal Health Budget was extended to:

• wheelchair users who are referred and meet the eligibility criteria of their local wheelchair service, plus people who are already registered with the wheelchair service (these people will be eligible for a personal wheelchair budget when they need a new wheelchair)
• adults with mental health problems who are receiving after-care, as a result of being sectioned under the Mental Health Act

If you are not in a group that has a right to a personal health budget, but you are interested in receiving one, speak to your health worker and local clinical commissioning group (CCG). CCGs make the arrangements for personal health budgets and are encouraged to offer them to other patient groups.

Once eligibility has been determined, a care and support plan has been completed and an indicative budget agreed, a Personal Health Budget can be managed in three ways, or a combination of these:

1. National budget

No money changes hands. You find out how much money is available for your assessed needs and decide together with the NHS team how to spend that money. The NHS is then responsible for holding the money and arranging the agreed care and support.

          2.Third party budget

An organisation legally independent of both you and the NHS (for example, an independent user trust or a voluntary organisation) holds the money for you, and also pays for and arranges the care and support agreed in your care plan.

3. Direct payment for healthcare

You get the money to buy the care and support both you and your NHS team agrees you need. You take responsibility for purchasing the agreed care and support which has been agreed and is detailed in your care plan. You must use a dedicated bank account, provide evidence of what you have spent your money on at regular intervals and manage the services that you have bought. The North Yorkshire Continuing healthcare team work closely with the Direct payment support service from North Yorkshire County council, who will provide you with specialist support and advice regarding this option.

With all options for managing the PHB you will still have regular reviews and if your needs change your care plan can also change along with the identified budget for care. You are not allowed to spend the money on gambling, debt repayment, alcohol, tobacco, or anything illegal.

Emergency care, medicines and the care and services you get from your Primary care team and GP are already funded NHS services, so will not need to be paid for from your budget.

If you would like to talk to someone about Personal Health Budgets please contact:

Continuing Healthcare team

North Yorkshire CCG

2nd Floor, Kingswood House,

14 Wetherby Road, Harrogate,

HG2 7SA

Tel 0300 303 8294

nyccg.continuing-care@nhs.net

You can follow this link for further information on personal health budgets from NHS England NHS England » Personal health budgets (PHBs)

Beacon, an organisation funded by NHS England, gives free independent advice on NHS Continuing Healthcare. Phone 0345 548 0300 or online. You can also write to Beacon, 10 Napier Court, Barton Lane, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 3YT.

General information and resources created by people with lived experience of Personal health budgets can be found here.