If you are a long term patient, a carer, or are planning for a baby, NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent is trying out a pilot project that aims to give you more control and choice over buying the services that you need.
Many people have said that having more control over how money gets spent on their care makes them feel more involved and positive about their treatment. Personal Budgets are already working successfully in social care and we are going to try a similar idea for health care. It does not cost any more than providing services in the normal way.
If you have a personal health budget, you will be able to use it for a range of things to help you meet your health and wellbeing needs.
You will not be expected to use your budget to pay for emergency care and care that you normally get from a GP.
What is happening?
Personal health budgets will not be the answer for everyone but we do think they could be a good way to help some people to get the NHS care that is right for them.
From 2009 until 2012, we will be running a “pilot” for personal health budgets. This means testing the idea with a small number of people in eastern and coastal Kent to see if and how it works. Experts will look at what happens and help us decide what to do next.
The main things to know about personal health budgets
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The NHS stands by its promise that it is there for everyone, based on need not ability to pay.
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The NHS care and support you get should be safe and effective. It should be a positive experience.
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Personal health budgets should help people who may not always get the best out of the NHS to get a better service, not make things worse.
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You will not have to get healthcare in this way if you do not want to.
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You should have as much control over decisions as is appropriate for you.
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NHS and social care organisations should work in partnership with you and with each other.
Talk about personal health budgets
Want to chat with other people who are using PHBs? Use the NHS Choices personal health budget forum.
Case studies: read our real life stories of how personal health budgets helped us
More information
If you have more questions, or would like more information, please:
