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The '''NHS Constitution for England''' is a document that sets out the objectives of the [[National Health Service (England)|National Health Service]], the rights and responsibilities of the various parties involved in health care, (patients, staff, trust boards) and the guiding principles which govern the service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england |title=The NHS Constitution for England |publisher=NHS choices |date=27 July 2015 |accessdate=27 July 2014}}</ref> First published on 21 January 2009, it was one of a number of recommendations in [[Lord Darzi]]’s report "High Quality Care for All" as part of a ten-year plan to provide the highest quality of care and service for patients in England.<ref>[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110506035152/http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/healthcare/nhsconstitution/index.htm Sourced from the National Archives]</ref> Previously, these rights and responsibilities had evolved in common law or through [[English law|English]] or [[EU law]], or were policy pledges by the NHS and [[UK government]] that have been written into the document.{{cn|date=October 2016}} It can be seen as a development of the ideas that began with the introduction of the [[Patient's Charter]] in 1991.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2019|title=NHS England appoints RPS director for England to 'NHS Long Term Plan' advisory board|journal=The Pharmaceutical Journal|doi=10.1211/pj.2019.20206362|issn=2053-6186}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://systems.hscic.gov.uk/infogov/caldicott/caldresources/consultationresps/consultnhsconstit.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021112030/http://systems.hscic.gov.uk/infogov/caldicott/caldresources/consultationresps/consultnhsconstit.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 October 2015 |title=A consultation on The NHS Constitution |publisher=Department of Health |type=pdf |page=13 |date=30 June 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Great Britain. Department of Health.|title=The NHS constitution : the NHS belongs to us all.|date=2012|publisher=Department of Health|oclc=863579933}}</ref> |
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The '''NHS Constitution for England''' is a document that establishes the principles and values of the [[National Health Service]] in England. It sets out rights to which patients, public and staff are entitled, and pledges which the NHS is committed to achieve, together with responsibilities, which the public, patients and staff owe to one another to ensure that the NHS operates fairly and effectively. |
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Unlike a real [[constitution]], the document is not itself legally enforceable, though it purports to set out the rights of patients and staff. It is fairly brief and written in plain terms. Accompanying is a handbook which gives more information to patients and staff about the document, and also provides detail on the legislation that underpins the rights. A statement of NHS accountability also gives a clear account of the NHS system of accountability, transparency and responsibility. |
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First published on 21 January 2009, it was one of a number of recommendations in [[Lord Darzi]]’s report "High Quality Care for All" as part of a ten-year plan to provide the highest quality of care and service for patients in England.<ref>[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110506035152/http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/healthcare/nhsconstitution/index.htm Sourced from the National Archives]</ref> |
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==References== |
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* The NHS belongs to the people. It is there to improve our health and wellbeing, supporting us to keep mentally and physically well, to get better when we are ill and, when we cannot fully recover, to stay as well as we can to the end of our lives. It works at the limits of science – bringing the highest levels of human knowledge and skill to save lives and improve health. It touches our lives at times of basic human need, when care and compassion are what matter most. |
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* The NHS is founded on a common set of principles and values that bind together the communities and people it serves – patients and public – and the staff who work for it. |
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* The Constitution establishes the principles and values of the NHS in England. It sets out rights to which patients, public and staff are entitled, and pledges which the NHS is committed to achieve, together with responsibilities, which the public, patients and staff owe to one another to ensure that the NHS operates fairly and effectively. The [[Secretary of State for Health and Social Care]], all NHS bodies, private and voluntary sector providers supplying NHS services, and local authorities in the exercise of their public health functions are required by law to take account of this Constitution in their decisions and actions. |
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* The Constitution will be renewed every 10 years, with the involvement of the public, patients and staff. It is accompanied by the Handbook to the NHS Constitution, to be renewed at least every 3 years, setting out current guidance on the rights, pledges, duties and responsibilities established by the Constitution.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=The NHS Constitution for England|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england/the-nhs-constitution-for-england|access-date=2021-10-11|website=GOV.UK|language=en}} [[File:UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg|30x30px]] Text was copied from this source, which is available under an [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright.</ref> |
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=== Principles === |
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The NHS is founded on a common set of principles and values that bind together the communities and people it serves – patients and public – and the staff who work for it. Seven key principles guide the NHS.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|date=21 January 2009|title=NHS Constitution for England|url=http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_093419|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_093419|archive-date=7 January 2013|access-date=31 March 2017|publisher=Department of Health}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> |
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* The NHS provides a comprehensive service, available to all |
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* Access to NHS services is based on clinical need, not an individual’s ability to pay |
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* The NHS aspires to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism |
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* The patient will be at the heart of everything the NHS does |
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* The NHS works across organisational boundaries |
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* The NHS is committed to providing best value for taxpayers’ money |
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* The NHS is accountable to the public, communities and patients that it serves |
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=== Values === |
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Patients, public and staff have helped develop this expression of values that inspire passion in the NHS and that should underpin everything it does. Individual organisations will develop and build upon these values, tailoring them to their local needs. The NHS values provide common ground for co-operation to achieve shared aspirations, at all levels of the NHS.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> |
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* Working together for patients |
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* Respect and dignity |
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* Commitment to quality of care |
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* Compassion |
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* Improving lives |
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* Everyone counts |
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== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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Revision as of 10:11, 4 November 2021
The NHS Constitution for England is a document that sets out the objectives of the National Health Service, the rights and responsibilities of the various parties involved in health care, (patients, staff, trust boards) and the guiding principles which govern the service.[1] First published on 21 January 2009, it was one of a number of recommendations in Lord Darzi’s report "High Quality Care for All" as part of a ten-year plan to provide the highest quality of care and service for patients in England.[2] Previously, these rights and responsibilities had evolved in common law or through English or EU law, or were policy pledges by the NHS and UK government that have been written into the document.[citation needed] It can be seen as a development of the ideas that began with the introduction of the Patient's Charter in 1991.[3][4][5]
Unlike a real constitution, the document is not itself legally enforceable, though it purports to set out the rights of patients and staff. It is fairly brief and written in plain terms. Accompanying is a handbook which gives more information to patients and staff about the document, and also provides detail on the legislation that underpins the rights. A statement of NHS accountability also gives a clear account of the NHS system of accountability, transparency and responsibility.
References
- ^ "The NHS Constitution for England". NHS choices. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
- ^ Sourced from the National Archives
- ^ "NHS England appoints RPS director for England to 'NHS Long Term Plan' advisory board". The Pharmaceutical Journal. 2019. doi:10.1211/pj.2019.20206362. ISSN 2053-6186.
- ^ "A consultation on The NHS Constitution" (PDF) (pdf). Department of Health. 30 June 2008. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2015.
- ^ Great Britain. Department of Health. (2012). The NHS constitution : the NHS belongs to us all. Department of Health. OCLC 863579933.