Government announces personal health budget rollout plans

The government has announced plans to introduce new personal health budgets for NHS patients from October of next year.

A new initiative unveiled this week by health secretary Andrew Lansley will see tens of thousands of patients allocated with money that they can use to meet their healthcare needs in the way they feel is most appropriate.

Those eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare will be the first group to receive personal health budgets, due to demand among this demographic and evidence from pilot schemes that they will benefit from the additional choice and flexibility it offers.

By April 2014 the scheme will be fully in place and will provide those with complex health and social care needs with greater control over how they receive treatment.

Mr Lansley said: "Personal health budgets clearly fit with the future direction of a modern NHS – an NHS which focuses on quality and gives patients more control and choice."

Last week, the government launched a new set of online tools to provide UK patients with more information about the different treatment options available to them.