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Personal budgets allow local NHS trusts to put individuals in control of how, where and from whom they receive their healthcare, in partnership with the local NHS. A personal health budget can either be arranged by the NHS, an independent third party, or the individual can be given the money to buy the care themselves through a direct payment.

A pilot scheme that offers patients more choice and control over their healthcare has been given an additional £4 million of funding. The money will be used to support personal health budget pilot sites set up and run their pilot schemes.

The first independent interim evaluation report of the personal health budget pilot programme was published recently. It is based on interviews with project leads and highlights some of the challenges the pilots face and how they are beginning to overcome these. The main challenges identified include:

• setting the size and scope of the personal health budget, and funding them;
• the care planning process, and supporting people through it;
• linking together health and social care;
• developing the market, so that genuine choices are available to people; and
• managing the cultural change required.
  

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