Care minister changes law to give wheelchair users and mentally ill personal health budgets

Care minister Caroline Dinenage has changed the law, effective from 2 December, to allow 100,000 more people using wheelchairs or receiving mental health support to get a personal health budget.

From 2 December, all those eligible for an NHS wheelchair or requiring aftercare services, under section 117 of the Mental Health Act, will have more control over decisions made about their care and choice of wheelchair.

Minister for Care, Caroline Dinenage said: “I’ve seen for myself how personal health budgets are giving people a new lease of life, opening up possibilities to let them live their lives full.”

“This extension of legal rights will give many more people independence, a say in how they’re cared for, improving their experiences while ensuring value for money for taxpayers.

“This is an important step in our NHS Long Term Plan’s ambition to see personalised care become the norm for thousands more across the country.”

The Department for Health and Social Care has said more than 70,000 people are already benefitting from the scheme.

A personal health budget can be spent on a specially-adapted wheelchair and a choice of personal care assistants who are specially trained to meet a person’s care needs. It can also be spent on exercise classes to reduce stress and boost health.

Last year, the Department of Health and Social Care consulted on extending the right to a personal health budget and almost nine out of ten people responding backed the proposals.

The NHS is considering extending the legal rights to other groups highlighted in the consultation including people with ongoing mental health needs and those with learning disabilities.

Climbing course, equine therapy and a woodwork class

Since 2014 those in receipt of NHS continuing healthcare and children receiving continuous care have had the right to a personal health budget. A person entitled to section 117 after-care if you have been in hospital under sections 3, 37, 45A, 47, or 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Nicola spent a significant period of time in psychiatric hospital, and has had multiple contacts with police, mental health services and A&E.

She was offered a personal health budget, which aligned her treatment with what was important to her. This included a climbing course, equine therapy, peer support and a woodwork class.

Nicola has since only made appropriate contact with mental health service and has not required emergency services or been admitted to hospital since. Nicola and her family feel the new package of care has given Nicola an opportunity to start afresh.

Nicola said, “The first thing is that I actually have a future, so before there was no point in me having a future and I didn’t want it. Now I’m not just looking at things today or tomorrow, I’m actually looking at things months and years ahead”.

Association of Mental Health Providers' chief executive, Kathy Roberts, said “Personal Health Budgets have much to contribute to the recovery of people with mental health conditions, enabling greater choice and control for people so that they can develop care and support that works for them in the context of their own lives.

“This is particularly the case for people who have experienced periods of detention under the Mental Health Act, and as a result, are eligible for aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act.”

Martin was able to access a seat riser through his personal wheelchair budget, negating the need for local services to make kitchen adaptations. He can now get out and about and lead his life as he wants.

Martin said: “There are not only physical advantages of having the right chair and being able to do more independently. The mental lift of a little independence cannot be ignored.”

As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, access will be increased to allow up to 200,000 people to receive a personal health budget by 2024.

The NHS Long Term Plan will expand personalised care which will be rolled out to 2.5 million people by 2024 via personal health budgets and social prescribing, where people are referred by their GPs to local community or voluntary activities.

Whizz-Kidz chief executive Ruth Owen said: “Whizz-Kidz has long championed personal wheelchair budgets as we believe disabled people should have the right to actively choose the wheelchair best suited to their lives.

“Through our partnership with the NHS in Tower Hamlets, we already successfully deliver personal wheelchair budgets to help disabled people get the wheelchair they need, when they need it.

“Now that the right to Personal Wheelchair Budgets has been enshrined in law, we hope that all wheelchair services will adopt a truly holistic approach to the needs of disabled people, and give wheelchair users the control that they deserve.”