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Government cuts are jeopardising move to personal health budgets

BMJ 2011; 342 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d4047 (Published 28 June 2011) Cite this as: BMJ 2011;342:d4047
  1. Caroline White
  1. 1London

The personalisation of health and social care in England is facing a “perfect storm” as extensive efficiency savings in the NHS and deep cuts in government funding to local authorities take their toll, a London conference on personal health budgets heard on 22 June.

Personal budgets aim to bolster individuals’ choice and control by enabling budget holders to act as commissioner and to purchase social care or healthcare services directly or through a third party (BMJ 2010;341:c7037, doi:10.1136/bmj.c7037). An Audit Commission report published last October, Financial Management of Personal Budgets, said that personal budgets can provide flexibility, choice, and control to service users and . . . can improve health and wellbeing, and user satisfaction. They provide opportunities to make cost savings” (www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nationalstudies/localgov/personalbudgets/Pages/default.aspx).

Personal budgets featured prominently in the coalition government’s vision for social care and in …

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