Summary
Vulnerable patients will be offered their own personal health and care budgets, the says Simon Stevens, NHS England’s Chief Executive. Approximately five million people should be offered personal budgets which combine health and social care funding by 2018.
Reference
Triggle, N. (2014). Frail need joint health and care budget, says NHS boss. London: BBC Health News, July 9th 2014.
Integrated Personal Commissioning Programme
More information on plans for the new Integrated Personal Commissioning (IPC) programme are supplied below.
“Under the new IPC programme, a combined NHS and social care funding endowment will be created based on each individual’s annual care needs. This will blend funds contributed from local authorities and NHS commissioners (CCGs and NHS England). Individuals enrolled in the programme will be able to decide how much personal control to assume over how services are commissioned and arranged on their behalf… NHS care will in all cases remain free at the point of use, and available according to individual need”.
Reference
NHS England Chief offers local government leaders radical new health and social care integration option. London: NHS England, July 9th 2014.
Social Care Payment Caps
A poll of 152 councils in England found that 90% had concerns about the cost of plans to cap the amount of money people in England and Wales will need to spend on social care. Lack of funding means that reform of the adult social care system intended to cap the amount people pay towards their care at £72,000 could be unachievable.
Reference
Triggle, N. (2014). Social care reforms: Councils raise funding concerns. London: BBC Health News, August 7th 2014.
