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NHS personal health budgets spent on 'patient treats' NHS personal health budgets spent on 'patient treats'
(34 minutes later)
Thousands of pounds from NHS "personal health budgets" are spent on "treats" such as holidays and clothes, a Freedom of Information request has found.Thousands of pounds from NHS "personal health budgets" are spent on "treats" such as holidays and clothes, a Freedom of Information request has found.
Pulse magazine said money had also gone on horse riding, art classes, massage, and, in one case, a summer house.Pulse magazine said money had also gone on horse riding, art classes, massage, and, in one case, a summer house.
The budgets were brought in by the government to give people with long-term conditions more control and choice over their healthcare and support.The budgets were brought in by the government to give people with long-term conditions more control and choice over their healthcare and support.
NHS England said all spending had to be agreed with the health service.NHS England said all spending had to be agreed with the health service.
'Own space''Own space'
Patients decide with medical professionals how the money from their personal budget should be spent.Patients decide with medical professionals how the money from their personal budget should be spent.
It can be used on services such as therapies to help with depression, and assistance with personal care such as dressing and washing.It can be used on services such as therapies to help with depression, and assistance with personal care such as dressing and washing.
Pulse, a magazine for GPs, used the Freedom of Information Act to find out how personal health budgets were spent in England in 2014-15.Pulse, a magazine for GPs, used the Freedom of Information Act to find out how personal health budgets were spent in England in 2014-15.
Full responses were obtained from 33 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) out of 209.Full responses were obtained from 33 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) out of 209.
The British Medical Association said it continued to have real reservations about the scheme and "the inappropriate use of scarce NHS money on non-evidence based therapies".The British Medical Association said it continued to have real reservations about the scheme and "the inappropriate use of scarce NHS money on non-evidence based therapies".
Dr Richard Vautrey, deputy chairman of its general practitioners' committee, said: "While individuals may themselves value a massage or summer house, others will understandably start to question why they can't also have such things paid for by the state - and that will just fuel demand."Dr Richard Vautrey, deputy chairman of its general practitioners' committee, said: "While individuals may themselves value a massage or summer house, others will understandably start to question why they can't also have such things paid for by the state - and that will just fuel demand."
Nigel Praities, editor of Pulse, said readers of the magazine had reacted to the story with "dismay".Nigel Praities, editor of Pulse, said readers of the magazine had reacted to the story with "dismay".
He said: "Doctors have to follow the evidence, they have to make sure everything they do is effective. To see in other areas of the NHS money maybe being spent on things that doesn't have such evidence behind it, particularly at a time when the NHS is trying to save lots of money, is hard to swallow."He said: "Doctors have to follow the evidence, they have to make sure everything they do is effective. To see in other areas of the NHS money maybe being spent on things that doesn't have such evidence behind it, particularly at a time when the NHS is trying to save lots of money, is hard to swallow."
Mr Praities added that the problem with the funding was that it "may give a lot of choice to a small number of patients but actually, overall, it might actually reduce choice".Mr Praities added that the problem with the funding was that it "may give a lot of choice to a small number of patients but actually, overall, it might actually reduce choice".
'Quality of life''Quality of life'
A spokesman for NHS England said: "Personal health budgets are designed to meet identified health needs in ways that give patients more control over the care and support they receive.A spokesman for NHS England said: "Personal health budgets are designed to meet identified health needs in ways that give patients more control over the care and support they receive.
"The spending must be agreed between the individual and the NHS, meet the patient's individual health needs and achieve the desired outcomes."The spending must be agreed between the individual and the NHS, meet the patient's individual health needs and achieve the desired outcomes.
"An independent evaluation has shown that personal health budgets are cost effective, help people manage their health and improve quality of life.""An independent evaluation has shown that personal health budgets are cost effective, help people manage their health and improve quality of life."
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