Individuals with continuing health problems will be able to request a personal health budget from April 2014.

The move, announced by health secretary Andrew Lansley this week, will give eligible patients the right to decide the treatment given to them by those in domiciliary care jobs.

Lansley claimed that the move will also help personalise the NHS; as well as integrating the country's health and social care services.

Cited by onmedica.com, he said: "Personal health budgets clearly fit with the future direction of a modern NHS - which focuses on quality and gives patients more control and choice.

"They allow people to work with the NHS so that they can receive more personal, more tailored care which fit with an individual's life and uses resources more effectively."

The scheme will be rolled out on a pilot scheme from October 2012, with the aim of providing personal budgets for everyone with continuing healthcare needs by April 2014.

Reacting to the announcement, Help the Hospices' director of policy, Jonathan Ellis, claimed that personal health budgets would only work if patients have access to trained advisers. Managing a budget without access to support services would be "complex and time consuming," he said.  

Community Care reports that health commissioners would retain the right to refuse certain requests from those in long-term care.