Parent/carer views on personal health budgets for disabled children who use rehabilitation therapy services

Personalised budgets are promoted as the person centred alternative to generically provided services. Nine parent/carers of children with physical disabilities ( aged 18 years or younger) who accessed at least two rehabilitation services ( physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy ) were recruited from one region in England. Focus group/interviews explored their views on the proposed introduction of personalised budgets. Parents/ carers viewed a personal health budget with caution and perceived benefits were tempered by experiences of current provision. Concerns were raised about entitlement and how a personal budget would work in practice.