NHS chief announces plan to give patients cash to fund their own care

NHS chief announces plan to give patients cash to fund their own care Simon Stevens says giving patients financial control will force health and social care systems to provide better services

Billions of pounds of health service and town hall budgets are to be handed over to the most vulnerable patients to purchase health and social care services in the community, in a dramatic change of policy being unveiled by the NHS's new boss.

Frail elderly people, disabled children and those with serious mental illness or learning disabilities will from next April be offered individual pots of money to spend as they see fit on health and social care services such as carers, physiotherapists and psychotherapy sessions, in an attempt, in part, to keep them out of hospital. Continue reading... The Guardian