Physiotherapy UK 2012 - Patients and physios alike could benefit from personal health budgets

Interviews from the most recent interim report into the use of the budgets suggest they could lead to improvements in health and well-being, Mr Lane told delegates.

He gave an outline of the national personal health budgets pilot, introduced in 2009, and gave practical examples of how the budgets are being implemented at a local level.

Delegates were told that the aim of the budgets was to give individuals more choice about the services and support they receive – allowing them greater control over the money spent on their health care.

Mr Lane said their introduction could provide new opportunities for physiotherapists, as there is a growing demand for services that meet people’s needs in a flexible way.

‘Personal health budgets do not replace the need for trusted, professional advice and the valuable contribution that physiotherapy can make,’ said Mr Lane.

‘But they can offer clinicians the opportunity to work with people in new ways to meet their health and well-being outcomes.

However, Mr Lane added that there was still much to learn and warned that if the budgets were introduced across England more than 50,000 people could be eligible to apply.

The final independent evaluation of personal health budgets is due to be published by the DH shortly.  

For more information, visit: www.dh.gov.uk/personalhealthbudgets