Direct payments for health care

The Department of Health has recently consulted on proposals for piloting direct payments for health care. This is part of the wider programme to explore the personalisation of health service targets announced in the NHS Next Stage Review.

This consultation closed on 8 January 2010 and here you can read the RCN's response to Direct payments for health care (PDF 48.9KB) [see how to access PDF files].

The Department of Health has selected a number of pilot sites in England to test direct payments in the NHS, offering health budgets for a range of NHS services; for example continuing health care, long-term conditions, end of life care and obesity.

The RCN believes that these pilot sites (due to run for three years) must be subject to rigorous evaluation, with the results published before any decision is taken to implement nationally.

We would like to hear from you if you will be involved in one of the personal health budget pilot sites on a personal or professional level. Please email your contact details or your comments on your pilot site to policycontacts@rcn.org.uk.