The NHS is there for us from the moment we're born. It takes care of us and
of our family members when we need it most.
The NHS Constitution has been created to protect the NHS and make sure it will always do
the things it was set up to do when it was established in 1948 - to provide high-quality
healthcare that's free and for everyone.
No government can change the Constitution without consulting everyone who is involved
in the NHS including staff, patients and the public. It is a promise that the NHS
will always be there for you.
Find out more about the NHS Constitution & NHS Choices - Click Here
The NHS Constitution brings together in one place what patients, the public, and staff can expect from the NHS.
It also explains what you can do to help support the NHS, help it work effectively, and help ensure that its
resources are used responsibly.
The Constitution sets out your rights as an NHS patient. These rights cover how patients access health services,
the quality of care you'll receive, the treatments and programmes available to you, confidentiality, information
and your right to complain if things go wrong.
Did you know:
- If your GP refers you to see a consultant, you can usually choose the hospital you want to go to. You might want to choose a hospital that has better results for your treatment, or one near friends and family. You can search and compare hospitals at www.nhs.uk/comparehospitals or ask your GP for information.
- You can view your own health records. You don't have to give reason to see them. To do this you can discuss with your GP or contact your local Patient Advice and Liaison Service.
- You should always be treated with dignity and respect, in accordance with your human rights. This means, for example, that your right to privacy should be respected. You should not have to share sleeping or bathroom facilities with members of the opposite sex, except on the rare occasions where you need very specialised or urgent care.
- You have the right to have any complaint you make about the NHS dealt with efficiently and investigated properly. If you want to complain about an NHS organisation, contact it directly first. If you're not sure where to start, the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can help, visit www.nhs.uk/findyourpct to find your local PALS. PALS make sure your concerns reach the right people and help you resolve any problems. PALS can help you make a complaint and introduce you to agencies and support groups outside the NHS.
You can read all of your rights as an NHS patient by downloading the NHS Constitution from
www.nhs.uk/nhsconstitution
The promises the NHS makes to you
The NHS also makes certain pledges to you, which the NHS is committed to achieving. These go above and beyond your legal rights and are a commitment to provide high-quality services.
Did you know:
- The NHS is working hard to make sure that you are seen as soon as possible, at a time that is convenient for you. While the NHS is making it easier for you to get a hospital appointment more quickly, it's also giving you more opportunity to see a GP at a time that's convenient to you. Nearly two-thirds of GP surgeries now offer extended opening hours. Many areas are also establishing GP-led health centres which offer walk-in and bookable GP appointments 8am-8pm, seven days a week. You'll be able to use the service regardless of which local GP surgery you're registered with.
- The NHS commits to inform you about the healthcare services available to you, locally and nationally. Visit NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk/choices to find out what services and treatments are available and where.
- The NHS commits to ensure that services are provided in a clean and safe environment that is fit for purpose, based on national best practice. Tell the provider of your care of any concerns about your healthcare facilities and participate in the regular surveys of patient experience that the NHS uses to improve its care.
You can read all of the pledges that the NHS makes to patients by downloading the NHS Constitution.
There are seven principles which set out how the NHS should act and make decisions. These principles are underpinned by a set of values which were agreed by NHS staff, patients and the general public - the people who are most closely involved in the NHS. The care you receive from the NHS should always measure up to these principles.
The NHS principles are:
- The NHS provides a comprehensive service, available to all.
- Access to NHS services is based on healthcare needs, not your ability to pay.
- The NHS aspires to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism.
- NHS services must reflect the needs and preferences of patients, their families and their carers.
- The NHS works across organisational boundaries and in partnership with other organisations in the interest of patients, local communities and the wider population.
- The NHS is committed to providing best value for taxpayers' money and the most effective, fair and sustainable use of finite resources.
- The NHS is accountable to the public, communities and patients that it serves.
It took almost a year of discussions, research and consultation with staff, patients and the public to produce the ideas
which went into the NHS Constitution. This means it is based on ideas from the people who are closest to the NHS.
The NHS is a vital resource and we can all help it work effectively, and ensure resources are used responsibly. The NHS Constitution
explains the ways in which you can do this, including:
- recognising that you can make a significant contribution to your own, and your family's good health and well-being, and taking some personal responsibility for it
- registering with a GP practice
- following courses of treatment you've agreed to
- always treating NHS staff and other patients with respect
- keeping GP and hospital appointments - or if you have to cancel, doing so in good time
- giving feedback - both positive and negative - about treatment you've received
The NHS Constitution recognises how important it is for patients to have a voice in their care. You can have a say in your care in a
number of different ways, from choosing which GP you go to, to getting involved in shaping NHS services where you live. For more
information visit
www.nhs.uk/getinvolved.
The NHS can be a confusing place and you may worry about aspects of your care. PALS is here to help you when you want someone
to talk to about your health needs or any concerns that you may have about your local health service.
Your local PALS office can:
- Tell you about local NHS services and help you to find relevant information.
- Help to resolve concerns or problems.
- Act for you to get an answer to your complaint or concern.
- Provide information about the NHS complaints procedure.
- Identify problems or gaps in services and help to make changes happen.
- Introduce you to support groups outside the NHS.
To find out about your local PALS, visit
www.nhs.uk/findyourpct, ask your GP surgery or hospital for details, or you can phone NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
