Government announces funding for health charity projects

The government has outlined plans to allocate six million pounds to 13 charities over the next three years for healthcare-related projects.

Organisations including Family Lives, Action for Blind People, YMCA England, Diabetes UK and Mencap are being offered grants as part of the first Department of Health Volunteering Fund National Awards scheme.

The aim of the initiative is to further the government's aim of creating a patient-centric NHS, with each of the funded projects being designed to offer more choice over treatment and improve healthcare outcomes.

Care services minister Paul Burstow said: "Initiatives range from tackling health inequalities to preventing ill-health and improving health outcomes to spreading information and good health advice."

This comes as part of a wider 40 million pound commitment to fund volunteering and social action over the next two years as part of the government's Big Society plans.

Last month, the Department of Health allied with health charities to launch the UK's first online health tracker, which allows patients to take a greater role in monitoring their own recoveries.