TERMINALLY ill residents have been invited to choose how NHS money is spent on their care.

Warrington is one of just four areas in the country piloting the scheme, which lets patients choose how to use their personal health budget.

The clinical commissioning group has teamed up with St Rocco’s Hospice to help sick people and their families get the most out of the final months, weeks and days together.

A personal health budget is not new money but means residents can decide what treatments, equipment or care they want.

Jonathan Murray-Seddon from NHS Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group said: “This work is about empowerment and valuing the contribution and input that people should make to their healthcare plans and decisions.

“We are proud to say that in partnership with St Rocco’s, Warrington has been successful in achieving 34 personal health budgets in end of life care to date.”

The project has been extended for another year and Mr Murray-Seddon said it would focus on getting terminally ill patients out of hospital and back to their homes, with the help of district nurses.

Pam Massey, chief executive at St Rocco’s said: “We have been very pleased to work with the Warrington CCG on this project which highlights once again the importance of working with individual patients to support them to be involved in making positive choices about their end-of-life care.

“I am delighted that the hard work, expertise and input of our staff, especially our Hospice at Home team, has resulted in such a positive outcome and an extension to the project.”