The Government may launch personal health budgets whe... - NRAS
The Government may launch personal health budgets where patients choose how their healthcare needs are met & how money is spent on therapy/personal care/equipment. What do you think of the proposal?
125 VotersPlease select one:
I don't think people know enough about this to be able to judge fairly. But I do know the agenda of this government so am very wary of it. Does it, for instance, mean that everyone has the same amount of money disposable? What about people who develop chronic illnesses like RA which are very expensive? What happens when our budget runs out?
can we see other comments?
'The Government' - Which one I wonder.
Are you absolutely sure this applies to all of the UK. For Example NHS Scotland has always been a Scottish responsibility. It abhors the way things are going South of the Border and resists all attempts to sell off or privatise any or all of my NHS Scotland.
Does it apply in Wales? Northern Ireland?
I've just found your comment and agree. It doesnt apply here in Scotland. However these policies can seep across the border just as many have found their way from countries who have privatised health services, cathie
I agree that we don't know enough about it.
What happens if your personal budget runs out?
What happens if the treatment that you think is best is very expensive (biologics v. methotrexate for example)?
What happens if you decide to spend it all on some alternative treatment, then have a bad flare up which needs conventional treatment? etc....
While I agree with many of the comments about not knowing enough about this, my main concern is some people like myself have a number of chronic conditions requiring specialist intervention. The cost of which could be astronomical and way beyond the scope of a personal budget.
My answer is that I don't know. The problem I have is that I do not trust the government and the way it is "managing" the NHS.
I do know that I am not able to access treatments that were previously available to me (because of the cuts). And RA is not even recognised in some of the current plans for managing chronic diseases.
Do we know enough about the things there are to choose from?
Will postcodes affect what is available?
Will the money line the pockets of some of the alternative therapists out there?
Or does this simply mean they are going to privatise Physio, OTs etc.
I will watch this proposal with interest!!
This is a horribly bad idea not thought through properly. When I first heard about it, I sent away for the consultation documentation which made unpleasant reading. In answer to another query, it does indeed apply to the whole of the UK even though Health is devolved in Scotland as it comes under the heading of Benefits which is managed by Westminster. How on earth will it be determined who gets what amount of money and you can bet your life that, as ever, RA will be bottom of the pile for importance.
Is there an online source for this? I assumed it didn't apply outwith England
I will need to search for the document. Will keep you posted Cathie.
Dont spend too much time but thanks
Type into Google - Changes to DLA consultation document and the first two items are relevant.
thanks helpful boots
I agree that we do not know enough about how this proposal would work and for those of us with long term chronic illnesses like RA ,we could easily make the wrong choices and impair our well being. I believe the decisions about budget spend should be left to the NHS to manage with the advice of the clinicians , after all , they are the experts.
I suspect that it is all about reducing the budget which I have some sympathy with as the NHS has not got the resources to deal with an ageing population, the majority of whom have chronic conditions. However I do not believe this is the answer.
stupid idea
I think it may well be a good idea for people with major care needs such as teams of round the clock carers, and very complicated requirements for therapy as might give more control. But for the vast majority, and people like us I think it's nuts. I'm fundamentally opposed to health being commercialised, as just means that some of the budget goes on profit to private companies. I also worry that people could be persuaded to use their budgets on unsuitable treatments, or scammed by people who aren't properly trained. Polly
What happens when your money runs out sell your house just to get treatment
I certainly do not trust any actions our Government is considering applying, especially to us vulnerable groups as history shows. We did not vote the Tories in, nor did the Lib-dems get our authority (they are kaput as time will tell - was having a small taste of compromised power worth it to them? Marginal voters will not give them votes from now on so...).
When my Incapacity Benefit was switched to ESA I instantly suspected skulldudgery - I was correct.
Hang on people, the Government will be forced into a General Election they will never win...but who will?
Another ridiculous initiative to unpick the welfare system. The choice to manage ones care already exists for seriously physically or mentally disabled people & they can employ a personal assistant from their allowance. This proposal is being offered under the guise of offering 'choice' but it's just another way of cutting down on the experienced professional staff who support those living with a chronic condition. We must not be so naive as to let this initiative be implemented without questioning.
The only reason I would say it's a good idea is because I know I can look after my budget a heck of a lot better than any government or organization. However, all the concerns raised here are very valid, especially - exactly how much will be in that "personal budget"? How much, How long, etc....not enough info really on exactly what they are thinking of.
I also can see this going badly wrong. Doctors are the experts and best placed to determine tests treatments and overall care. The system is failing because there are too many demands on the NHS in terms of volume of patients, and the budget, however much is grows each year, does not cover the running costs of the service.
I fail to see how giving individuals a personal budget will ease the burden on the NHS, to the contrary, it suggests that money will be wasted on un-necessary tests and treatments by lay users, and those in need of extra funding will be denied treatments because their budget has run out. It is madness, and the huge salaries being paid to these reckless people to come up with ideas like this, should be used for care, sack the idiots along with the similar group who yesterday came up with the idea of asbos being replaced by crimbos!! Where is common sense these days?
Hi everyone,
Thank you for all the comments posted so far. I thought it would be useful to give you some additional background about personal health budgets to explain the context behind the poll question.
NRAS has been invited to take part in a Arthritis Research UK and Department of Health sponsored seminar on how the future implementation of personal health budgets may affect people with musculoskeletal conditions, such as RA.
The concept of personal health budgets is currently being piloted by the Department of Health in England and depending on the results may be rolled-out in 2014 - so the poll question is in relation to England, but the general principles will remain the same if implemented elsewhere (like in Scotland for example).
A personal health budget will be an amount of money to support a patient's healthcare and well-being needs, planned and agreed between you or your representative and your local NHS team. If you have a personal health budget, you will be able to use it for a range of things to help you meet your health goals, for example therapies, personal care and equipment. You will not be able to pay for emergency care and care you normally get from a family doctor. You are also not allowed to spend the money on anything non-health related.
NRAS would like to hear about any views or concerns you have about this new initiative.
- As a patient what sort of information do you think you will need in order to manage a personal health budget effectively?
- How should clinicians relate to personal health budgets and patients that may have them?
- Are there any particular groups you think should be encouraged or discouraged from taking personal health budgets on? What are the impacts on patient safety?
The event is happening this week, so please email any other comments or suggestions to me at jamie@nras.org.uk so I can raise concerns on your behalf.
Further information about personal health budgets can be found on the Department of Health website at: dh.gov.uk/health/category/p...
Regards,
Jamie Hewitt
Government Affairs Manager
"so the poll question is in relation to England, but the general principles will remain the same if implemented elsewhere (like in Scotland for example). " I trust that statement is based on fact.
Are you absolutely certain about this? For 'will' might it be better to say 'may'? Has any discussion with the Scottish Health Secretary taken place? Can you please reference them?
i am another i don't know - ofcourse the headline question is very encouraging but like so many others i do not trust this government so am unsure as to how the budget will be worked out. Is the system set up properly for patients to use personal health budgets, is anyone monitoring how they use them. Will alot of people fail to get the proper health care because they cannot manage or do not know how to use their budget effectively. Will this substitute other allowances in the future e.g. dla.
I just thought the same thing. Is this a replacement for my DLA/PIP. Will there be more "medical" assessments by unqualified ATOS puppets with targets to reach? Don't make me laugh!!
One more step towards private health care, this government is determined to introduce paying for treatment. All very well proposing we should take out insurance to cover the cost but how many of us would find an Insurance company willing to take us on.
As expressed above, what happens when your money runs out? Do you get same amoount each year? What if one year you are well, don't need it - can you roll it over? Doesnt take into account that your needs may change, i.e. worsening of conditions so may need more than before - is that just tough? Being skeptical of governments in general, this is probably to save them money and not really to help us.
If this was to include medications i do not have the knowledge to choose let alone purchase also wich companys to purchase from ect.Would this include surgery and then surgens that would need payment,how do i choose the right person ,would i have to interview them ect.It may start with care but this is a huge area. would there be enough in the budget and if your spent up due to unforseen issues is that it, no more care for that year.Already so many question and many more so this issue requires a HUGE amount of consultation starting not in goverment but with those who need the care ,support and ongoing treatments and there carers and famlies.This one should be left with those trained in there field of experties and not with politions who proberly have private health care ,but who pays that bill i wonder.
Sounds like a very bad idea to me. Everyone would need to be a lot better educated in all areas of health care. We are not the experts and never can be!
This idea would be fine if we had knowledge of what was on offer and who/where was best for treatment. Most people have no way of finding out so it will possibly lead to unsuitable treatment, longer waiting lists and no guarantee of getting the best appropriate treatment in a reasonable time scale. We have all seen how GP's surgeries are suddenly being smartened up - with in house alternative treatments, mini operating theatres and just look up the names of the Directors of the many Private Clinics springing up.
This scares the hell out off me!
As someone who has received a direct payments budget for care I know how little off what care you need you actually receive.
I was given 8 hours a week this was for someone (carer) to come into my home help me out off bed every morning, help me too the toilet first thing and clean up etc if needed, then to shower me wash hair etc and get me dressed.(all things I couldn't do at this point.) Then they had to ensure I had my medications at the right time (at this point was taking 50+ tablets a day plus injections) they were then to make sure I had at least one cooked meal a day and one hot drink.
Does that sound like eight hours work a week too you?
Nope it wasn't and there was no way my carer could do that in a day, I had to have a shower every other day and a lot off the time that hot meal was a microwave meal or bowl off soup. And the rest off the care I really needed like who washed my clothes cleaned up etc etc was down too me paying others to help out. Out off my pocket And some family and friends helped out when they could.
So as someone who suffers with multiple illnesses and is currently being prescribd 25items a month all essential in my health (they vary from mthx to steroids to steroid creams and drops etc) but would my budget be enough to cover these daily meds let alone things like my rituximab infussons etc. Would we still be able to fit monthly blood monitoring in? Would we be able too see the ot who's services have already been but massively? Or the physio who's services have been cut massively no longer is my physio allowed too do physiotherapy on my back etc when they are at there worst they just give me an exercise sheet and tell me they advise I book private for a massage which always helps me when I have a knot in my back etc but at £40 for 45 minutes out off my pocket its not something I can always afford. What about all our hospital appointments xrays, mris, dexa scans etc the list is endless.
Will they take all these into account? I think not! And if this does go ahead I can see me struggling to afford the medication out off the budget let alone any other medical needs.
I think this is the best answer here so far, it is based on first hand experiance etc, a real eye opener. I think that it is hard enough fighting for ht eright and appropriate treatment as required, this would be an easy way out as it would be reliant on our budgets, if that runs out tough, as already suggested a first step to private health care.
This is being presented as empowering us by giving us greater choice. I would far rather be empowered by a better resourced health system which gives me greater access to less busy and less stressed rheumatology experts so that they, the experts, can make choices for my healthcare in full consultation with me.
The simple answer is so few people have the skills/knowledge base to manage a financial budget therefore, it would be doomed from the start.
Just another waste of time and money in consultations which, I'm sure will take place in top hotels with lavish lunches at the taxpayers expense.
Terrible idea- just what the coalition government want, to make the rich richer, and the poor poorer
Don't be fooled into thinking this is a great idea- it claptrap
I WONT BE GIVING IT MY VOTE..............................................There making a right mess of this country grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
this is a very worrying proposal and if someone has a longstanding chronic health condition which need a lot of treatment (or multiple health conditions) then they are obviously going to use up their credits or budget very quickly - then what? will they be left to suffer?
everybody is not the same and it is not fair or moraly right to tar us all with the same brush. it's humiliating to say that this how much you can have to improve your quality of life or even give to get treatment to stop you dying.
Sounds like a very bad idea, more stress and less resourses spells disaster to me.
