By Hayley Robinson

Pre-loaded cash cards will be issued to a handful of expectant mums in Swale as part of a pilot scheme.

NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent, which will work in partnership with Kent County Council (KCC) and the University of Kent, is one of just 20 PCTs in England selected to take part in the Personal Health Budget scheme that gives patients more choice and control over how money is spent on their healthcare.

It is the only project using personal budgets for maternity services and the only pilot using a pre-loaded payment card to enable patients to pay for services they need. The card is partially blocked to prevent cash withdrawals and can only be used for certain types of care. It is expected that the card will be used to buy services like physiotherapy and hydrotherapy and aids such as specialised beds.

During the next three years, 75 patients will be recruited to take part including older people, carers, people with learning disabilities, the terminally ill and patients with mental health problems.

The scheme will involve assessing individual health needs and then drawing up a budgeted care plan. Everyone involved in the study will be given a Kent Card to allow them to choose their healthcare from a range of service providers.

The study will help to understand the benefits and limitations of Personal Health Budgets to ensure they help as many patients as possible.

Ann Sutton, NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent’s Chief Executive, said: "Personal health budgets will help people to feel in control of their care and able to make decisions about their treatment.

"This study and the support we are receiving from KCC will enable us to explore new and innovative ways of giving greater patient choice, more personalised healthcare and improved health and wellbeing, all based on principles contained in the NHS Constitution."

Personal Health Budgets have been introduced following their successful use for people receiving social care.

The study is being evaluated nationally by three research teams including a team from the University of Kent at Canterbury.

The full evaluation will last three years with newsletters, research summaries and interim reports made available online.