Health minister discusses personal health budgets

Health minister Lord Darzi has congratulated the sites selected to pilot a programme aimed at helping patients have more say in how money is spent on their healthcare needs.

Some 68 projects will take place in 75 Primary Care Trusts after calls for facilities across the country to take part in the personal health budgets.

Lord Darzi explained the main aim of the budgets is to create a more personalised NHS and to give individuals control over the healthcare they think is appropriate for them.

“There is clearly real enthusiasm and energy across health and social care for this agenda,” he remarked.

“We were very encouraged by the overall quality of the applicants and look forward to working with as many sites as possible.”

Pilot sites have indicated a range of areas will be looked at, including mental health, obesity and substance abuse.

Earlier this month, it was announced the NHS will receive a boost to help deliver personalised and high quality care for patients.

The decision came after the Department of Health published a new commercial operating model.