The Right to Request social enterprises scheme, will see extra funding allocated to the NHS, health secretary Andrew Lansley has said.

The £4.4 million funding which will be distributed through the Social Enterprise Investment Fund is to be set aside for those NHS projects who hope to become social enterprises in the future. The scheme will give those currently working within the NHS, the chance to become their own boss.

Mr Lansley told Social Enterprise Live: "We want to empower the millions of public sector workers to become their own boss and help them to deliver better services. This is about a fundamental power shift, taking power from Whitehall and placing it in the hands of frontline staff who know best the needs of their communities. This is what the Big Society is all about."

It is estimated that £900 million worth of NHS services and 25,000 staff working in hospital doctor and physiotherapy jobs amongst others, will be transferred to the social enterprise sector. Proposals in the final wave span nine of the ten Strategic Health Authorities and include services such as primary care access for the vulnerable and homeless, sexual health services and support for bereaved children and families.

Peter Holbrook CEO of the Social Enterprise Coalition added: "Owned by staff and patients, these social enterprises will have the autonomy to deliver services that truly meet the needs of their local populations and bureaucracy will be replaced by an ability to be flexible and responsive - the end result being quality local services for patients."