SWINDON health chiefs pan to expand a scheme that allows poorly patients to use NHS cash for items like vet bills and charity memberships.

Government ministers announced this week that they plan to expand the personal health budgets scheme.

Currently used by 23,000 people across the country, personal health budgets hand people with complex health problems funding to pay for elements of their care. They have proven controversial, with stories of the NHS cash being spent on National Trust memberships, horse-riding lessons and aromatherapy.

The government wants to expand the scheme to veterans, mental health service users, wheelchair users and those with a learning disability. If the proposals go through, 350,000 people could end up being set personal health budgets.

In Swindon, there are currently 15 people claiming personal health budgets. Swindon NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, which oversees applications to the scheme, have pledged to offer more people personal health budgets over the coming year.

Gill May, executive nurse at Swindon CCG, said: “This financial support enables patients to have more of a say in their ongoing care needs, particularly around things not routinely included within the standard NHS budget, such as veterinary bills for people who rely on an assistance animal, such as guide dogs, for day-to-day independence.

“Although the government has announced plans to expand the scheme, offering this extra support to more people in our area is something we had already prioritised for this coming year.”