Constitution ‘will enshrine NHS principles and values’

The government has announced the publication of a draft NHS constitution for consultation it claims enshrines the principles and values of the health service for the future.

Its publication follows dialogue with patients, staff and the public over the last year and reaffirms the right to NHS services free of charge and without discrimination.

The Department of Health said the constitution will bring together for the first time the rights and responsibilities of staff and patients to ensure the fair and effective operation of the health service.

It incorporates the right to drugs and treatment approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence if clinically appropriate, the right to make choices about NHS care with clear options, the right to dignified and respectful treatment and the right to complaint and redress.

Alan Johnson, secretary of state for health, said: “This is a momentous point in the history of the NHS.

“As we approach the 60th anniversary of our health service, it is striking how its founding principles still endure and have resonance for staff, patients and public alike.”

He added the draft consultation is not set in stone but a basis for further consultation, striking the correct balance for clarity and the avoidance of undue litigation.

In February 2008, non-party thinktank Reform capped for the the establishment of an economic constitution for the NHS to create value at all levels.