Briefing on personal health budgets in mental health

The briefing, 'Personal budgets in mental health - Key points on implementation', has warned organisations introducing mental health personal health budgets to be prepared for changes, as people non-traditional treatment methods, often at home, are being preferred by patients.

Personal health budgets allow patients a greater influence over how their care money is being spent. Quite frequently this can be arranged via a direct payment to the patient in question, although sometimes it involves a notional budget or a third party having control. With a predicted rise in Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) usage of personal health budgets, those who could benefit in the mental health service users are expected to profit.

The briefing provides examples of where personal budgets are being introduced in mental health - such as patients on injecting opioid therapy and those repeatedly readmitted to inpatient acute services. It also identifies possible areas where personal health budgets can be trialled, highlighting people who frequently use services, people in recovery services, teenagers who are able to be treated at home and those moving from children to adult services as candidates.

One of the main challenges outlined in the document is the need to safeguard public money. The briefing also emphasised getting buy in from staff and keeping existing services running as crucial factors in the light of possible changes.

Dr Johnny Marshall, NHS Confederation director of policy, said: "Personal health budgets are here to stay. The issue is no longer whether to implement them, but how and for whom. As local areas roll out them out, it will be crucial to keep learning from experience and to share evidence about their impact and the best ways to implement them as widely as possible."

Think Local Act Personal director Dr Sam Bennett said: "The pressures on the system demand we think and act differently to drive through the changes needed for a truly person-centred NHS. People with health and care needs can help lead this change, with support, through using personal budgets. It's a challenge we should embrace and there is already a wealth of learning we can build on to do this."

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