Investing in Personal Health Budgets to Meet New NHS Targets

A new report published in November by Community Catalysts has added weight to the growing evidence that personal health budgets (PHBs) should play a central role in the future of personalised care across England. 

Commissioned by NHS England’s North West Personalisation and Community Services team, the study explores the use of PHBs in Continuing Healthcare and Children’s Continuing Care in Cheshire and Merseyside. 
Its findings are clear and compelling. 
When people have a personal health budget, they gain real choice and control over their care arrangements, their overall experience improves, and the approach delivers strong value for money.

This aligns closely with the direction set out in the NHS 10-Year Plan. 
The plan sets an ambitious target to double the number of people using PHBs by 2028/29 and go further still to reach one million PHB holders by 2030. 
These goals reflect a shift towards more personalised, flexible models of care that prioritise what matters most to individuals rather than relying solely on standardised service delivery. 

More information about PHBs can be found on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk.

To meet these targets, integrated care systems will need to work proactively and collaboratively. 
The report highlights that Cheshire and Merseyside provide a strong model of how PHBs can be implemented at scale. 
Their approach emphasises partnership working, dedicated support for families and a clear commitment to enabling people to make meaningful choices about how their care is delivered. 
As demand for personalised approaches continues to grow, these examples may guide other regions as they seek to develop efficient, person-centred PHB pathways.

What makes PHBs so effective is the level of autonomy they provide. 
Instead of fitting their lives around traditional commissioned services, individuals and families can shape care around what works best for them. 
For some, this means employing a personal assistant who understands their routines, communication preferences or health needs. 
For others, it means purchasing specialist equipment to improve mobility or independence, arranging community-based support or creating a flexible plan that adapts to changing circumstances. 
The report from Community Catalysts, available at https://www.communitycatalysts.co.uk, reinforces how powerful this freedom can be for improving wellbeing.

At HomeCareDirect, we see the benefits of PHBs every day. 
We work with people with severe learning disabilities, complex autism and general complex health needs who want to live independently and have greater control over their support. 

PHBs make that possible. 
They allow people to move away from rigid service structures and instead design support that reflects their values, goals and lifestyle. 
Many families tell us that having a PHB not only improves quality of life but restores confidence and reduces the stress associated with navigating traditional care systems.

As the NHS moves forward with its expansion plans, ensuring the right support is available will be essential. 
Setting up and managing a PHB can feel daunting without guidance. 
HomeCareDirect helps families at every stage of the journey. 
This includes recruitment of personal assistants, managing bank accounts, ongoing monitoring of budgets and day-to-day support to ensure that the PHB continues to meet the individual’s needs.

The increasing national focus on personalised care, backed by clear NHS targets and strong evidence from programmes like those in Cheshire and Merseyside, signals a transformative opportunity for people who want a greater say in how they are supported. 
PHBs offer a practical and empowering way to achieve this, and with the right expertise behind them, families can unlock the full potential of personalised care.

If you are considering a personal health budget for yourself or a loved one, our team is here to help you understand your options, build a support plan that works for you and manage the responsibilities that come with it. 
Contact us to discuss how a personal health budget could transform your care and provide the independence, flexibility and control you deserve.