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<p>NHS services are free of charge, except in limited circumstances sanctioned by
Parliament. Increasing the number of areas where top-up payments for personal health
budgets (PHBs) are allowed would risk creating a two-tier health service, undermining
the core principle of the National Health Service, set out in the NHS Constitution,
that treatment is provided free at the point of use, based on clinical need, not ability
to pay.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to the roll out of PHBs, and through
Universal Personalised Care, NHS England has committed to offering PHBs to up to 200,000
people over the next five years.</p><p> </p><p>From 6 April 2018 to 8 June 2018, the
Department and NHS England consulted on five groups which we believe may benefit most
from PHBs. On 21 February 2019, we announced our intention to extend the legal rights
to a PHB to people eligible for Section 117 aftercare services, and people who access
wheelchair services, whose posture and mobility needs impact their wider health and
social care needs. PHBs will not be appropriate for everyone, however we will also
continue to work with NHS England to further explore both the other groups we consulted
on, and additional groups who we believe could also benefit from having a right to
have a PHB. Any further extension will be based on evidence of effectiveness and clinical
appropriateness.</p><p> </p><p>The Department and NHS England will continue to support
clinical commissioning groups in expanding their PHB offer outside of those groups
which are offered a legal right.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p>
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