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The NHS belongs to us all. The NHS Constitution was published on January 21 2009. It brings together in one place for the first time in the history of the NHS what staff, patients and public can expect from the NHS.

Patients will have legal rights to maximum waiting times for elective procedures and urgent cancer referrals and to an NHS Health Check every five years for those aged 40-74, if proposals published on 10 November 2009 are taken forward.

The proposals, set out in ‘The NHS Constitution: A consultation on new patient rights‘, will mean that from 1 April 2010, patients will have the legal right to maximum waiting times to start treatment by a consultant within 18 weeks of GP referral, and to be seen by a cancer specialist within 2 weeks of GP referral.

NHS Constitution consultation Patient Rights Report

A national consultation proposing new patients rights under the NHS Constitution is currently underway. NHS London is urging members of the public to register their views in a region wide survey by 19 January 2010.

Have your say here http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9MW6XVZ

Who does it apply to?

It applies to all of us. In terms of services it applies to all NHS organisations and other bodies supplying NHS services.

It:

• Brings together in one place what staff, patients and taxpayers can expect from the NHS
• Forms the basis of a new relationship between staff and patients - based on partnership
• Describes everyone's responsibilities and makes it clear how we can make best use of NHS resources
• Confirms that the NHS belongs to all of us
• Details all existing rights for staff, patients and the public and explains what to do if you feel your rights have not been upheld. It also explains where the NHS pledges to improve services and working environments
• Sets out for the first time new rights for patients, example:
• right to make choices about your care
• right to receive vaccinations that the national body recommends
• Sets out principles and values to guide how all parts of the NHS should act and make decisions

It:

• Secures the future of the NHS for generations to come. The government must renew the constitution every 10 years after comprehensive consultation
• Aims to ensure high-quality, free NHS services - value for money for tax payers
• Tells staff and patients to what they are entitled
• Recognises that it is staff that really make the difference when providing high-quality care
• Helps staff, patients and the public play their part in the NHS
• Sets out a vision in which all staff should be trusted and actively listened to and have the confidence and tools to act in patients' interests

The rights and pledges are detailed under the following headings:

• Access to health services
• Quality of care and the environment
• Nationally approved treatments and programmes
• Respect, consent and confidentiality
• Informed choice
• Involvement in healthcare and the NHS
• Complaint and redress

You can read a number of documents including:

• The NHS Constitution http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_093442.pdf
• The Handbook to the NHS Constitution http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_093421
• The Statement of NHS Accountability http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_093418.pdf

All these publications can be found on the Department of Health website.

Order on line: www.orderline.dh.gov.uk

Email: dh@prolog.uk.com

Phone: 0300 123 1002

Post:    PO Box 7
London
SE1 6XH