Aiming high for disabled children: delivering improved health services looks at how PCTs can best work in partnership with local organisations to deliver high quality care that delivers value for money.
It contains a number of case studies examining PCT partnerships with child disability groups that have improved provision of equipment and services.
Tower Hamlets PCT provided a grant to charity Whizz-Kidz to run wheelchair services on the trust's behalf. A recent user survey indicated a satisfaction rate of 100 per cent for equipment and 87 per cent for services. Waiting times for provision have reduced to below 18 weeks in most cases
Jo Webber, deputy director for policy at the NHS Confederation, said: "PCTs are increasingly responding to national policy developments focused on improving the health of disabled children."
The report was published in conjunction with the Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) campaign.
Christine Lenehan, EDCM board member and director of the Council for Disabled Children, said: "We have welcomed the priority given to disabled children in the recent child health strategy and the confirmation that PCTs have £340m in their baseline budgets from 2008-2011 for disabled children's services, including children's palliative care.
"But in the context of a devolved NHS this will only make a difference to the lives of disabled children if every PCT demonstrates strong leadership and has a clear accountability structure for disabled children's services."
Funding for disabled children's services was a key priority for the NHS Operating framework of 2008-09 and 2009-10, with a total of £340m of allocations over the three years from 2008/09 to 2010/11.