Cambridgeshire NHS announce how Aiming High money is being spent

pinpoint has received a copy of Cambridgeshire NHS's statement on how Aiming High money is being spent from Fiona Mortlake, Interim Head of Children’s, Young People, Maternity and CAMH Commissioning for NHS Cambridgeshire.

Questions have been asked about the allocation of Aiming High for Disabled Children funding for short breaks which was announced by the Government last year. Unlike the funding allocated to Local Authorities, which was ring fenced specifically for ‘Aiming High’, the Aiming High funding allocated to NHS Cambridgeshire was designated as part of the annual base line budget for the whole of children’s services. This is the method that has been used across the country in other PCT’s [Primary Care Trusts]. The issue has been discussed at a national, regional and local level.

NHS Cambridgeshire has allocated the money to enhance services that are used to support disabled children in line with the Aiming high for Disabled Children agenda, including:

• timely access to therapies
• increasing palliative care budget
• enhancing Continuing Care budget
• extra support for East Anglia Children's Hospice (EACH)
• a transitions post

We have asked Fiona how the views of parents have been taken into account and are waiting on answer.