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class="single-post"> <div class="single-post-article group" id="main-content"> <header> <h1>Blog</h1> </header> <article class="post group"> <header> <h2>Living a full and happy life thanks to personalised care</h2> <div class="entry-meta group"> <time class="post-meta" datetime="2020-02-18"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 16 16"><path class="icon" d="M15.47 3v11.61a.8.8 0 0 1-.63.78A36 36 0 0 1 8 16a36 36 0 0 1-6.83-.6.8.8 0 0 1-.63-.78V3a.8.8 0 0 1 .63-.78c.05 0 .6-.12 1.5-.23v.72A1.35 1.35 0 0 0 4.09 4a1.08 1.08 0 0 1-.35-.8V1.07a1.07 1.07 0 1 1 2.13 0v.58h3.2v1.02A1.35 1.35 0 0 0 10.49 4a1.08 1.08 0 0 1-.35-.8V1.07a1.07 1.07 0 1 1 2.13 0v.75c1.53.17 2.48.35 2.57.37a.8.8 0 0 1 .63.81zm-1.6 11V6.4H2.14V14a36.28 36.28 0 0 0 5.86.48 36.28 36.28 0 0 0 5.87-.48zM3.74 12.8v-2.14h2.13v2.14zm5.33-3.2H6.94V7.46h2.13zm-2.13 3.2v-2.14h2.13v2.14zm5.33-3.2h-2.13V7.46h2.13zm-2.13 3.2v-2.14h2.13v2.14z"/></svg> 18 February 2020 </time> <p class="post-author"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 16 16"><path class="icon" d="M3.74 11.2A24.31 24.31 0 0 1 .39 11a.43.43 0 0 1-.3-.2.38.38 0 0 1-.09-.34c.22-.95.17-1.27 1.07-1.9s1.8-1 2.12-1.37A.78.78 0 0 0 3.27 6a3.17 3.17 0 0 1-.78-3.58A2.48 2.48 0 0 1 4.8 1.07a2.48 2.48 0 0 1 2.32 1.36 3 3 0 0 1 .27 1.2 3.56 3.56 0 0 0-2.82 2 4.32 4.32 0 0 0 .72 4.6c-.15.1-.33.2-.5.3-.34.22-.7.42-1.05.67zm-.15 3.55a.43.43 0 0 1-.3-.2.38.38 0 0 1-.07-.35c.22-.95.17-1.27 1.07-1.9s1.8-1 2.12-1.37a.78.78 0 0 0 .07-1.18 3.17 3.17 0 0 1-.78-3.58A2.48 2.48 0 0 1 8 4.8a2.48 2.48 0 0 1 2.32 1.37 3.17 3.17 0 0 1-.78 3.58.78.78 0 0 0 .07 1.18c.32.35 1.32.8 2.12 1.37s.85.95 1.07 1.9a.44.44 0 0 1-.07.35.43.43 0 0 1-.3.2 31.21 31.21 0 0 1-4.43.18 30.9 30.9 0 0 1-4.41-.18zm12.33-3.93a.43.43 0 0 1-.3.2 24.67 24.67 0 0 1-3.35.18c-.35-.25-.72-.45-1-.65a5.21 5.21 0 0 1-.52-.3 4.27 4.27 0 0 0 .7-4.6 3.52 3.52 0 0 0-2.8-2 3 3 0 0 1 .27-1.2 2.48 2.48 0 0 1 2.28-1.38 2.48 2.48 0 0 1 2.32 1.37A3.17 3.17 0 0 1 12.74 6a.78.78 0 0 0 .06 1.2c.32.35 1.32.8 2.12 1.37s.85.95 1.07 1.9a.44.44 0 0 1-.07.34z"/></svg> <a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/author/joanne-barrow/" title="Posts by Joanne Barrow" class="author url fn" rel="author">Joanne Barrow</a> </p> <ul class="topics"> <li><a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/?filter-category=phb" rel="tag">Personal health budgets</a></li><li><a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/?filter-category=ipc" rel="tag">Personalised care</a></li> </ul> </div> </header> <div class="rich-text"> <p><strong><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/100-000-more-people-to-be-given-personal-health-budgets">Legislative changes at the end of last year</a></strong><strong> mean that 100,000 more people are set to receive a personal health budget over the coming years.</strong></p> <p><strong>With latest figures showing <a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/personal-health-budgets-mandatory-data-collection-guidance-and-data/">88,953 people now have a personal health budget</a> in England,</strong><strong> in this blog mum Joanne shares the impact that this type of personalised care has had on her son, Tom. </strong></p> <p><strong>Thanks to his budget, Tom can live a full and happy life, supported by personal assistants, in a way that works for him and his family. </strong></p> <p>Tom, my son, is a 23-year-old young man, he has an amazing sense of humour and loves a bit of banter. He is obsessed with premier league football and watches Wigan Athletic. He goes to the gym, is part of a gaming circle, attends a community art group and a media college.</p> <p>As I write my story, Tom is out with a sewing group (Busy Bees) delivering handmade comfort bags filled with toiletries to the homeless. Supporting the community makes him feel good.</p> <p>He also happens to have a number of significant physical disabilities as a result of a genetic disorder. He has a tracheotomy, is peg fed, is on ventilation at night and is a wheelchair user. He has 24/7 care needs. However, his needs are well managed in the community.</p> <p>His medical condition doesn’t stop him from living a full and happy life – he has only had one hospital admission in the last 12 years.</p> <p>We put this down to personalised care – he receives a <a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/personal-health-budgets/what-are-personal-health-budgets-phbs/">personal health budget</a> which means the NHS provides him with an amount of money to support his health and wellbeing needs – planned and agreed between him and our Wigan NHS team. It allows him to manage his healthcare and support such as physio, treatments, equipment and personal care, in a way that suits him and our whole family.</p> <p>Tom’s personal health budget funds 2:1 support each week day. A diverse team of personal assistants (PAs) keep Tom healthy and safe, enable him to be independent, be part of his community, to follow his interests and be kept busy.</p> <p>It does take more work to manage his team of staff ourselves but we are able to recruit people who are appropriate and ensure they come when we need them to come and for the length of time we need, adapting and responding to Tom’s needs.</p> <p>We always knew his team was great but last summer, when he had that one hospital admission, the nurses were really impressed by the level of care and support his PAs provide. This was a real boost for me. I have three young grandchildren now and having the confidence in Tom’s staff team has meant I can spend time with them.</p> <p>What we’ve learned is that it’s important to be a good employer to retain staff (one of our PAs has worked with Tom for 15 years, and several for over 5 years). Because of Tomʼs NHS funding, we are able to differentiate pay, paying more to those taking more responsibility. We always pay on time, and ensure our staff take all the holiday they are entitled to. We have also had lots of advice and support from Embrace, an organisation that supports people with disabilities and their families. Tom and his PAs are giving back by volunteering with Embrace one day a week making courtesy calls to people. I’m really proud of all the good work Tom and his staff are doing, he’s achieving so much.</p> <p>I frequently hear people say there’s nothing out there for people like Tom, but I don’t agree – the key is good community connections, you need to be supported by people who can help you make the most of every opportunity.</p> <p>I wanted Tom to benefit from a holistic approach, where care was centred around him, not his illness; a personal health budget has given him, and our family, that control and happiness. And for that, I am grateful.”</p> <p>Across Greater Manchester, 3,741 people get a personal health budget. The team there are working to ensure these people all have as positive an experience as Tom and his family, and that personal health budgets are supporting them to lead good lives – whatever that means to each individual.</p> <p><b>Further information:</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/100-000-more-people-to-be-given-personal-health-budgets">Legislative changes at the end of last year</a> mean that 100,000 more people are set to receive personal health budgets over the coming years.</li> <li>Many people receiving personal health budgets employ or work with personal assistants to get the right care for them. Skills for Care has an <a href="http://www.employingpersonalassistants.co.uk/">employing personal assistants toolkit</a> containing a range of practical advice, tips and templates.</li> <li><a href="http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/IEfunding">Funding is also currently available</a> for personal health budget holders who employ personal assistants, to help pay for training and support.</li> </ul> </div> <div class="author-meta group"> <div class="avatar-photo"> <img width="140" height="140" src="https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Joanne-and-Tom.jpg" class="avatar avatar-140 photo wp-post-image" alt="Joanne and Tom" decoding="async" /> </div> <div class="biography"> <h5><a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/author/joanne-barrow/" title="Posts by Joanne Barrow" class="author url fn" rel="author">Joanne Barrow</a></h5> <div class="rich-text"> <p>Joanne Barrow lives in Wigan, Greater Manchester. She is the parent to three adult children. Her youngest son Tom has a personal health budget which she manages. She is chairperson of Embrace Wigan and Leigh, an organisation which provides support to disabled people and their families. Through personal experience, Joanne believes that personalisation has been extremely positive both for her son, and for her family</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="metabar metabar--footer"> <div class="article-date"> <div class="article-date__pub"> <span class="article-date__pub label">Date published</span>: 18 February, 2020 </div> <div class="article-date__last"> <span class="article-date__last label">Date last updated</span>: 18 February, 2020 </div> </div> </div> <div class="entry-meta entry-meta--topics"> <h4>Topics</h4> <ul class="topics"><li><a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/?filter-category=phb" rel="tag">Personal health budgets</a></li><li><a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/?filter-category=ipc" rel="tag">Personalised care</a></li></ul> </div> </article> <div class="comment-area"> </div> </div> <aside class="sidebar blog-sidebar group" role="complementary"> <div class="blog-sidebar--related-posts"> <h2>Latest posts</h2> <ul class="related-posts"> <li> <a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/early-diagnosis-saved-my-life/">Early diagnosis saved my life</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/millions-of-people-have-diabetes-but-how-much-do-you-know-about-it/">Millions of people have diabetes, but how much do you know about it?</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/working-with-people-and-communities-to-improve-general-practice-in-primary-care/">Working with people and communities to improve general practice in primary care</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/improving-health-equity-through-the-london-inspire-programme/">Improving health equity through the London Inspire Programme</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/mental-health-in-the-workplace-caring-for-staff/">Mental health in the workplace – caring for staff</a> </li> </ul> </div> </aside> </div> </div> </main> <footer class="footer group" role="contentinfo"> <div class="row"> <div class="footer-links"> <nav class="footer-navigation"> <ul id="menu-footer" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-29149" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-29149"><a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/terms-and-conditions-2/">Terms and conditions</a></li> <li id="menu-item-29151" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-29151"><a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/privacy-policy/">Privacy and cookies</a></li> <li id="menu-item-29152" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-29152"><a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/terms-and-conditions/comment-policy/">Social media and comment moderation</a></li> <li id="menu-item-159089" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-159089"><a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/feedback/">Website feedback</a></li> <li id="menu-item-29153" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-29153"><a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/accessibility/">Accessibility statement</a></li> <li id="menu-item-74806" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-74806"><a href="http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/">Open Government Licence v3.0</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="social-networks"> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/email-bulletins/" title="Sign up to our email bulletins" target="_blank"> <span class="hide">Sign up to our email bulletins</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/NHSEngland" title="Follow us on X" target="_blank"> <span class="hide">Follow us on X</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NHSEngland/" title="Follow us on Facebook" target="_blank"> <span class="hide">Follow us on Facebook</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nhsengland" title="Find us on Instagram" target="_blank"> <span class="hide">Find us on Instagram</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/nhsengland" title="Visit us on LinkedIn" target="_blank"> <span class="hide">Visit us on LinkedIn</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/thenhsengland" title="Watch videos on YouTube" target="_blank"> <span class="hide">Watch videos on YouTube</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="footer-logo"> <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/" title="NHS website"> <img src="https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/themes/nhsengland/static/img/nhs-uk-logo.svg" alt="NHS website"> </a> </div> </div> <div id="__ba_panel"></div> </footer> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-includes/js/dist/hooks.min.js?ver=4d63a3d491d11ffd8ac6" id="wp-hooks-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-includes/js/dist/i18n.min.js?ver=5e580eb46a90c2b997e6" id="wp-i18n-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="wp-i18n-js-after"> /* <![CDATA[ */ wp.i18n.setLocaleData( { 'text direction\u0004ltr': [ 'ltr' ] } ); 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