Sarah: We used to have a traditional offer for people in their last weeks of care, which
was very restrictive and there was almost an assumption around what people wanted. Personal
health budgets have allowed us to completely personalise the support that people receive
so when we began trialing this last year nobody commissioned their report to look like our
traditional offer, so we were able to see quite clearly that we didn’t necessarily
know what was best for what people wanted
Receptionist: Morning, welcome to the Hospice. If you could sign in and can I ask you to
grab a visitors badge please I know you know where you’re going
Sarah: We are working very closely with St Rocco’s which is a local hospice that supports
people from when they have a diagnosis, so much earlier in the process than when they’re
at the last days and weeks of life. They’ve received some training from us around what
personal health budgets are, how they work, what the processes are and what we need for
a personal heath budget. So around heath outcomes, indicative budget those sorts of things. And
then they’ve been taking that and working directly with the patients to complete support
plans and submit them to us so that we can fund the care that people want
So around perhaps independence it will be some family members, some volunteers…
Tracy: Personal heath budgets have just been a real benefit for patients and their carers,
in one way it’s allowing those conversations to start about what people will do want at
end of life. It’s introducing services to people, it’s allowing people to take independence
and to make their own choices about what they want
Brenda:(I woke up Wednesday morning 5 o’clock, put the wrong foot about of bed…)
Since I’ve had a personal heath budget my care has improved. An example was when I wanted
to get washed and showered at 11 o’clock a lot of carers wouldn’t come back to do
that, but that has to fit in with my breathing pattern because first thing in the morning
I couldn’t take it. And the fact that they come back a few hours later when I’ve got
my breath then I can cope with getting a shower which the others won’t do you see. It’s
got to be first thing in the morning or do without so you know. I mean they’re very
flexible for you as much as they can be you know
Sarah: For people in their last days and weeks of life this will be one of their last big
decisions and you only have one opportunity to have a good death and we’re really keen
on being able to improve people’s experiences around their end of life care. Not only for
them but also for their families and loved ones who are supporting them through that
Tracy: (Well that’s what’s nice isn’t it because you get to know us don’t you
and you get to meet us…)
We’ve had some lovely feedback from families from patients that have been on a personal
heath budget and they talk about the sort of services they’ve been able to access
and how that’s really made a benefit to somebody being cared for at home
Brenda: It makes me feel secure in everything that I’m needing you know, I know that they’re
going to be there for when I want them and what I want them for, it does make me feel
secure
Sarah: The outcomes have been really positive. For patients their focus is around reducing
anxiety, symptom control, pain management are really important things that we’re looking
to tackle. Some people have been very creative in how they’ve chosen to commission their
support to meet their needs. Overall as a CCG it’s also been really positive, there’s
been no additional costs incurred so commissioners like it, patients like it as well and we’ve
had an increase in the number of people who have been able to achieve their preferred
place of death as well which is positive for everyone involved