Zoe Porter and Bernadette Simpson discuss the benefits of a new scheme that enables patients to take charge of their healthcare resources and plan individualised care in collaboration with the professionals caring for them

A large-scale study (Forder et al 2012) piloting personal health budgets for people with long-term conditions found that they improved patients’ quality of life and psychological wellbeing. They were cost-effective and reduced the use of other healthcare services. From April next year, people receiving NHS continuing healthcare funding will have the right to ask for personal health budgets. Some clinical commissioning groups are also introducing them for mental health service users and patients with other long-term conditions.

This article outlines the benefits and challenges of introducing personal health budgets, and suggests how nursing managers can begin to consider their role in implementing them.