BHTA publishes new guide about PWBs and using the funding to purchase wheelchairs privately
The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) has published a new guide for users about Personal Wheelchair Budgets (PWBs).
Introduced in December 2019 by NHS England, people who access NHS wheelchair services in England now have a legal right to a PWB.
A PWB is a funding resource to support users to choose their own wheelchair, whether accessed through the NHS wheelchair service or using the money to purchase a wheelchair from the private sector.
PWBs are designed to give end-users more freedom and choice over the wheelchair they want, allowing them to choose the right wheelchair and accessories to suit their wider care needs. They also aim to break down barriers between health and social care, meaning that health and social care organisations work together to meet the individual’s mobility and postural needs.
Now, the BHTA’s new guide – ‘Get wise to Personal Wheelchair Budgets (PWB)’ – gives end-users an oversight of how they can access and use this wheelchair funding.
PWBs are replacing the NHS wheelchair voucher scheme and build on progress to offer Personal Health Budgets (PHBs) to more groups of people and ensure people receive care that is right for them.
A PHB is an amount of money to support a person’s health and wellbeing needs, which is planned and agreed between the person, their representative, or, in the case of children, their families or carers and the local NHS team. PWBs are a type of PHB and relate specifically to people being able to purchase manual and powered wheelchairs.
People who have been referred to, and meet the eligibility criteria of, their local NHS wheelchair service and receive a face-to-face assessment with a clinician are eligible for a Personal Wheelchair Budget.
The amount in the wheelchair budget should be based upon what it would cost the NHS to meet the person’s assessed postural and mobility needs via the wheelchair service.
The BHTA guide explains: “The PWB will have the value of the basic chair as a starting point, and this can be supplemented from your Personal Health Budget, from your social services Personal Budget, from educational funds, from charity funds, and/or from your own personal funds.”
After users have had a face-to-face assessment with a healthcare professional and identified their health and wellbeing outcomes, information is provided upfront about the amount of money available in the end-user’s wheelchair budget and the options available locally.
PWBs also allow end-users to access a range of different mobility options, such as seat-raisers, electric powered leg-lifters and better-quality postural management cushions.
The guide outlines that in many parts of England, end-users can take their PWB to a private mobility manufacturer or retailer to purchase a wheelchair. If a user purchases a wheelchair privately, the individual’s clinician will need to agree that the chosen mobility aid is appropriate and safe for the user’s needs.
However, the BHTA notes that there is a postcode lottery element to users purchasing privately as it depends on where the user lives and their local wheelchair service’s policies.
In addition, the guide says that a PWB can be managed in one of the following four ways:
- A notional PWB: this is where the person chooses to use their PWB within NHS commissioned services and the service purchases and provides the chair. This also offers the option for contributions to the PWB to enhance the wheelchair people can access. This contribution may come from an integrated package with other agencies, such as education, social care, voluntary or charity organisation, or through self-pay.
- A third-party PWB: this is where the person chooses to use their PWB outside of NHS commissioned services. An independent provider receives the personal budget by invoicing the NHS. This may also be contributed to as above.
- A traditional third-party PHB: this is where an organisation, legally independent of both the NHS and the person, holds the money and manages the budget. This could include provision of a wheelchair as part of a wider package of support.
- A direct payment: this is where the budget holder holds the money in a bank account or an equivalent account and takes responsibility for arranging the care and support and supply of any equipment in line with the agreed personalised care and support plan.
It is important to note that local wheelchair services may have limitations on these options, such as requiring the end-user to use service-approved third-party providers, the BHTA adds.
In August 2020, the BHTA published a guide for users on how to access wheelchair services.
https://thiis.co.uk/bhta-publishes-new-guide-about-pwbs-and-using-the-funding-to-purchase-wheelchairs-privately/https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BHTA-GW-to-PWBs.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BHTA-GW-to-PWBs-150x150.jpgNewsroomSector NewsThird SectorBHTA,British Healthcare Trades Association,NHS Wheelchair Services,Personal Health Budget,Personal Wheelchair Budget,PHB,PWB,wheelchair funding,wheelchair userThe British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) has published a new guide for users about Personal Wheelchair Budgets (PWBs). Introduced in December 2019 by NHS England, people who access NHS wheelchair services in England now have a legal right to a PWB. A PWB is a funding resource to support users to...Sarah SarsbySarah Sarsbysarah@thiis.co.ukEditorTHIIS Magazine