Personal health budgets on the horizon
pharmafile | January 22, 2009 | News story | Sales and Marketing |Â Â NHS, hcÂ
Patients will have greater choice and more control over the kind of healthcare they receive under new government measures.
The Health Bill proposes piloting a system of direct payments for healthcare to NHS patients and will go through the House of Lords over the next few months.
The move was welcomed by the NHS Confederation, which said it could have a positive impact in areas such as end-of-life care, mental health and maternity services.
It believes there is evidence to suggest that health outcomes are improved when patients are directly involved in making decisions.
But chief executive Steve Barnett warned there were risks: "There are significant barriers that need to be overcome before this policy is rolled out nationally."
"Should patients be allowed to spend their personal budgets on non cost-effective treatments? Should individuals be allowed to top-up their care? Should patients be allowed to invest personal budgets to be spent at a later date?" he asked.
The Bill will also place a legal duty on all providers of NHS services to follow the NHS Constitution, which sets out the organisation's values and the responsibilities of staff and patients.
There are also increased powers to remove or suspend chairs and non-executives of health bodies if they "fail to meet the requirements of public office".
Allied to this is the establishment of a regime for unsustainable NHS providers to protect patients and staff from failing services.
"The Health Bill will strengthen the NHS," said health secretary Alan Johnson. "It will provide a legal framework for the vital reforms of the last few years, and especially those outlined in High Quality Care for All."
Among the legislation's other proposals are the creation of new quality accounts that would need to be published by health providers.
Other measures include the introduction of innovation prizes to encourage enterprise within the NHS.
And there will be greater restrictions on tobacco in a bid to protect children and young people from smoking harm.
"The measures in this Bill, such as quality accounts and innovation prizes, will help to ensure that the NHS is providing the highest possible quality of care to everyone," said health minister Lord Darzi.
They would "give patients greater personalisation and control over the health care services they receive," he concluded.
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