What is a personal health budget?

A personal health budget is an amount of money which is planned and agreed between you (or someone who represents you) and your local NHS team to help you meet your health and wellbeing goals.  It allows you to manage your healthcare and support such as treatments, equipment and personal care, in a way that suits you and works in a similar way to personal budgets, which allow people to manage and pay for their social care needs. 

What can the money be spent on?

Everyone with a personal health budget can get support to think through how they would like to use their budget to meet their health and wellbeing needs. Your local NHS team can give advice on this and signpost to a range of organisations who can help draw a care plan together.  A personal health budget can be spent on any care or service that is set out in your care plan. For example:

• A personal assistant/carer
• Services from a care provider or support organisation
• Equipment to help independent living
• Activities to keep an individual fit and healthy
• Transport

You will not be able to use it to pay for emergency care or care you would normally get from a family doctor, including prescriptions. You are also not allowed to spend the money on gambling, debt repayment, alcohol or tobacco, or anything unlawful.

Am I eligible for a personal health budget?

Currently, personal health budgets are only available for adults and children who are eligible for NHS Continuing Health Care, or are jointly funded through that route. 

Personal budgets are being extended for people with long term conditions, learning disabilities and mental health conditions, where they could benefit from having even more control over their care.

How do I apply for a personal health budget?

If you are an adult in receipt of NHS Fully Funded Continuing Care, have a GP in the East Riding and would like to apply for a Personal Health Budget or discuss this further, please contact the Continuing Healthcare Team on 01482 672006 or 01482 672011 or email eryccg.continuingcare@nhs.net 

More information about Continuing Healthcare is available here.

How are personal health budgets managed?

Once a care plan has been agreed, the money in a personal health budget can be managed in three different ways:

• Notional budget - No money changes hands. You find out how much money is available and talk to your doctor or care manager about the different ways to spend that money on meeting your needs. They will then arrange the agreed care.
• Real budget held by a third party - A different organisation or trust holds the money for you, helps you decide what you need and then buys the services you have chosen.
• Direct payment - You get the cash to buy the services you and your doctor or care manager decide you need. You have to show what you have spent it on, but you buy and manage services yourself. NB - these are not the same as direct payments received through local authorities for social services care.

Where can I find out more information?

More information about personal health budgets can be found at www.england.nhs.uk/healthbudgets.

If you would like to discuss personal budgets for a child or young person contact the SEN Team on (01482) 392163 or send.enquiries@eastriding.gov.uk

If you are unsure as to whether you are eligible or not, please contact our patient relations team in the first instance ERYCCG.ComplaintsAndConcerns@nhs.net