The NHS is there for us
from the moment we are born. It takes care
of us and 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 in 1948 - to provide high-quality
healthcare that’s free and for everyone.
No Government will be
able to change the Constitution, without the
full involvement of staff, patients and the
public. The Constitution is a promise that
the NHS will always be there for you.
What
is the NHS Constitution?
For the first time in
the history of the NHS, the constitution
brings together in one place details of what
staff, patients and the public can expect
from the National Health Service. 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
for treatment, you have the right for any
non-emergency treatment that you need to
start within a maximum of 18 weeks or for
the NHS to take all reasonable steps to
offer you a range of alternatives if this is
not possible. You also have the right to be
seen by a specialist within a maximum of two
weeks from GP referral for urgent referrals
where cancer is suspected.
If your GP refers you
to see a consultant you may have a choice of
a number of hospitals. You might want to
choose a hospital that has better results
for your treatment than others, or one near
your place of work. Ask your GP for more
information.
You can view your
personal health records. You don’t have to
give a reason to see them, just ask at your
GP surgery and make an appointment to come
in.
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 have it
investigated properly. If you wish to make a
complaint about an NHS organisation, contact
them directly first. If you're not sure
where to start or how to get in touch with
an NHS body or independent regulator, the
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
can help. Its role is to make sure your
concerns reach the right people and to
support you in resolving any problems you
may have. It can help you to make a
complaint and introduce you to agencies and
support groups outside the NHS.
The
promises the NHS makes to you
The NHS also makes
certain pledges to you, which it 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 to
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 suits
you. Nearly two-thirds of GP surgeries now
offer extended opening hours so you can book
appointments before or after work. Each area
is also establishing new GP-led health
centres offering walk-in and bookable GP
appointments from 8am to 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.
NHS Choices, for example, is a service
intended to help you make choices about your
health, from lifestyle decisions about
things like smoking, drinking and exercise,
through to the practical aspects of finding
and using NHS services in England.
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.
What
the NHS needs from you in return
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 wellbeing, 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
Click here for a copy of the
NHS Constitution
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