The NHS Consitution

These include the right to choose a GP surgery, to state which GP you’d like to see, to choose which hospital you’re treated at, and to receive information to support your choices among may other rights.

The Constitution sets out the guiding values, core principles of the NHS and 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 amongst others.

NHS Values

The values that  should underpin everything the NHS does. These should be applied and worked towards at every level of the NHS and with every NHS provider

1. Working together for patients
2. Respect and dignity
3. Commitment to quality of care
4. Compassion
5. Improving lives
6. Everyone counts

NHS core principles

There are seven core principles of the NHS and how it should work. These include commitments and aspirations.

1. The NHS provides a comprehensive service available to all
2. Access to NHS services is based on clinical need, not an individual’s ability to pay
3. The NHS aspires to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism
4. The NHS aspires to put patients at the heart of everything it does
5. The NHS works across organisational boundaries and in partnership with other organisations in the interest of patients, local communities and the wider population.
6. The NHS is committed to providing best value for taxpayers’ money and the most effective, fair and sustainable use of finite resources.
7. The NHS is accountable to the public, communities and patients that it serves

Rights and Commitments

One of the primary aims of the Constitution is to set out clearly what patients, the public and staff can expect from the NHS and what the NHS expects from them in return. These are spelled out in the rights and commitments.

It outlines your legal rights that you can expect to get when being treated in the NHS. This includes things such as if you are unhappy with a NHS service and decide to make a complaint, you have the right to have that complaint acknowledged by the organisation receiving the complaint within three working days (this does not include weekends and bank holidays). You also have the right for that complaint to be investigated properly. These are legal rights and must apply to you.

The commitments are ‘pledges’ which are like promises. They are not legally binding, rather a standard that the NHS is aiming to achieve. This includes things such as the NHS commits that if you are admitted to hospital, you will not have to share sleeping accommodation with patients of the opposite sex, except where appropriate. Being a commitment rather than a right, they should strive for it but they are not legally obliged to do it.

Find the Patient rights and commitments here

The Constitution also outlines the responsibilities you have as a patient of the NHS as well as the rights & pledge to and the responsibilities of NHS staff.

The NHS Constitution is a 16 page document giving a simple run-down of the values, principles, rights and commitments. A more detailed explanation of the document and everything contained within it can be found in These include the right to choose a GP surgery, to state which GP you’d like to see, to choose which hospital you’re treated at, and to receive information to support your choices among may other rights. The Constitution sets out the guiding values, core principles of the NHS and 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 amongst others.

NHS Values

The values that  should underpin everything the NHS does. These should be applied and worked towards at every level of the NHS and with every NHS provider

1. Working together for patients
2. Respect and dignity
3. Commitment to quality of care
4. Compassion
5. Improving lives
6. Everyone counts

NHS core principles

There are seven core principles of the NHS and how it should work. These include commitments and aspirations.

1. The NHS provides a comprehensive service available to all
2. Access to NHS services is based on clinical need, not an individual’s ability to pay
3. The NHS aspires to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism
4. The NHS aspires to put patients at the heart of everything it does
5. The NHS works across organisational boundaries and in partnership with other organisations in the interest of patients, local communities and the wider population.
6. The NHS is committed to providing best value for taxpayers’ money and the most effective, fair and sustainable use of finite resources.
7. The NHS is accountable to the public, communities and patients that it serves

Rights and Commitments

One of the primary aims of the Constitution is to set out clearly what patients, the public and staff can expect from the NHS and what the NHS expects from them in return. These are spelled out in the rights and commitments.

It outlines your legal rights that you can expect to get when being treated in the NHS. This includes things such as if you are unhappy with a NHS service and decide to make a complaint, you have the right to have that complaint acknowledged by the organisation receiving the complaint within three working days (this does not include weekends and bank holidays). You also have the right for that complaint to be investigated properly. These are legal rights and must apply to you.

The commitments are ‘pledges’ which are like promises. They are not legally binding, rather a standard that the NHS is aiming to achieve. This includes things such as the NHS commits that if you are admitted to hospital, you will not have to share sleeping accommodation with patients of the opposite sex, except where appropriate. Being a commitment rather than a right, they should strive for it but they are not legally obliged to do it.

Find the Patient rights and commitments here

The Constitution also outlines the responsibilities you have as a patient of the NHS as well as the rights & pledge to and the responsibilities of NHS staff.

The NHS Constitution is a 16 page document giving a simple run-down of the values, principles, rights and commitments. A more detailed explanation of the document and everything contained within it can be found in the 146 page handbook.