The NHS belongs to us all

Download the NHS Constitution (PDF, 1.6Mb) and get more information about your rights as an NHS patient.

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 can 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 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. For more information visit our section on waiting times.

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 or search and compare hospitals using the Find and choose services option.

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. For more information visit our section on Same-sex accommodation.

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

Comments

18 Comments about ‘The NHS belongs to us all’

Our rules:

Comments are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

Gill8 said on 21 January 2012

The NHS website states we have a legal right to choose the hospital in which we wish to be treated. I have a brain tumour and want to have surgery at the National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery where the neurosurgeon has told me that the longer I put off surgery the more likelihood that I will suffer permanent damage. However I live in Dorset and am told that I have to go to Southampton. I was taken off the waiting list for Southampton when I exercised my right for a second opinion. It is six months since this tumour was discovered and I am not on any waiting list for surgery. My doctor advises I should accept Southampton who previously gave me a time frame well in excess of the 18 weeks between treatment and referral that the NHS pledges. The PCT will only accept an application form for treatment in London from the neurosurgeon in Southampton who clearly is not going to complete it. Am I missing something here? What about my right to choose? Why is it that when someone is feeling stressed and at their most vulnerable they are forced to take on the bureaucracy of the NHS system? I know I am not alone in being denied choices. It appears this is the theory in the NHS but certainly not the practice. I have written to my local MP, the PCT, PALS etc. but in the meantime the tumour is growing.

colstuart1872 said on 20 January 2012

I owe my life to the wonderful and skillfull actions of the Basingstoke North Hampshire Trust.
This hospital rolled out he red carpet to save my life.
It took them five months and several operations but they allowed me to cheat death
Many thanks
Thank you all for my life
God Bless you all
Keep up the good work

colstuart1872 said on 20 January 2012

User626357 said on 21 December 2011

My partner has completed her stem cell treatment @ MRI Manchester. We are very pleased.
The problem: we arrived on time for all our appointments 30+ NHS was late for all of them and a cancelled stem cell.
Very new swish hospital, very sad that the old culture, practice and delivery has continued from the old hospital
New building old habits

S Rees said on 27 November 2011

I have had wonderful treatment from the NHS. My uncle was treated for stroke, my cousin had nuclear medicine for thyroid problems and it changed his life immeasurably, my mother had her life saved by a consultant geriatrician who told me he thought she wouldn't make it, my mother in law had heart surgery, my cousin's daughter had brain damage and was in a coma for days and had brain surgery and part of her skull was removed as her brain swelled up and she had a metal plate attached where the bone had been removed, my eighty year old neighbour has had tons of NHS treatment, they are all very grateful for the treatment they have had.

The NHS is fantastic. I am so proud of the NHS and so grateful for it. Thank you to all the doctors and nurses.

I do not decry the problems outlined in previous posts - obviously people who are feeling quite desperate some of them - but I am puzzled because I know more people who are grateful for the NHS and have had good treatment, than I do people who have had poor treatment. But we don't hear from them.

An engineer I work with said that when she saw contractors in other countries, they would tell her how wonderful they were and when she went saw British contractors, they only told her what they did wrong, even though the British contractors were actually very good.

She wondered if we just tend to do ourselves down and not realise when we are doing a very good job.

Is part of the problem that in Britain, we don't tend to have a lot of confidence in what we do, even if we are doing it quite well? We listen to people who tell us we are no good and then believe them. We need to have more confidence in ourselves. We are a lot better than we think we are.

But one lady said that she was in hospital recently and she noticed that people don't say "thank you" to the nurses.

angelglory said on 24 November 2011

I went to see my neurologist who told me I needed antidepressants becuase of side effects of the tablets I take for epilepsy. He said I needed a specific one and that my GP would have to prescribe it. I went back to my GP and he put me on a different antidepressant, he said he hadn't received the letter, I was ill for 2 months because of this, at my next appointment on the advice of the Epilepsy Nurse I took a copy of the letter from the neurologist stating the drug I needed, he said just because the neurologist said it was the right one didn't mean it was and he refused to give it to me. I discovered that the one I was supposed to be on was very expensive compared to the 2 he tr ied which both made me really ill. I have now changed GP surgery and the doctor there didn't quibble at all about prescribing the drug. The surgery I was at lost 5 doctors in one go, they all left at the same time and we never found out why, I found this very suspicious and a bad omen, it was bad before then it got worse, I am just glad I have changed to one that treats me with respect well at least so far, I have only had 1 appointment but already I have been told that I should have been having regular blood tests for a drug I've been on for 2 years, nobody mentioned it.

Beam10 said on 25 October 2011

The second tip above says that we have a right to choose a hospital for treatment. Fine to say that but what GPs may do can be different.

My GP refused me my choice only 16 miles away and just offered me the three hospitals in their local hospital trust. This is for general surgery which all hospitals do.

The local NHS trust via PALS could not suggest why he would do that. I suspect its a funding issue.

The PALS is a joke. They rarely answer their telephones and are mostly volunteers with no detailed knowledge of the NHS. They have no executive powers and will not intervene with your problems.

Matelot said on 02 October 2011

I made an official complaint about a member of staff at my local hospital (non-medical staff I may add) and even after several reminders I have had no, repeat no comeback from the NHS or anyone connected with the complaints Dept for the NHS. A complete and utter whitewash. They protect their own. They ask to be trusted. Well, not by me they won`t, ever.

Terry57 said on 24 September 2011

I am residing outside UK but I am receiving UK State Pension. I would like to know whether I am eligible for
medical treatment should I return to reside in the UK.
Please advise me of the procedure what I should do.

alkazar1957 said on 18 September 2011

Anyone noticed that no-one gives a damn what comments you leave here?

Anyone been contacted about the comments you have left here?

welsh person said on 07 August 2011

Shame this constitution is not available to those living in Wales. I have asked for this to happen and was told that the NHS in Wales does not need this! Having the constitution gives a patient certain rights which are not available to us in Wales, although we pay the same. All the "procedures" in place are not followed (11 months to receive some of my medical records) and there are no repercussions for the NHS staff. Shame, shame, shame...

Klm2010 said on 22 June 2011

The NHS treatment of hypothyroid patients is an absolute disgrace. People are being under diagnosed and under treated on a daily basis. The cheapest treatment (thyroxine) is the treatment of choice in the NHS- funny that! People are left to suffer as a result and don't question anything, thinking that Dr known best. It's wrong and an absolute scandal. Patients need to do there own research and look at other avenues if you are suffering. There are other alternative treatments and specialists willing to use them but you need to take the initiative and look for them.

Manu_london said on 04 April 2011

I like the words "Respect & Dignity" but I'm not sure that they mean the same to everyone! I am going through a process of regsitering myself with my local GP and find that the attitude of the administrators (yes, the receptionists and administrators!) is that they are doing me a great favour by registering me. And here I am paying close to £6k a year just for my national insurance contributions (maximum that can be made) and avoiding seeing a Doctor because I feel that they are overwhelmed by the system ! I probably see one around once a year for some antibiotics. I'm all for helping each other but not for being treated badly by anyone. Perhaps NHS staff should go on a course of customer service of some sort as the private sector organisation doAs its a public service, there is unfortunately not much I can do but just bear it.

Autonomy said on 01 April 2011

Errrrrrr. Does the part about being allowed to make informed decisions and being involved in your treatment/care fall under the NHS constitution?
How about the Data Protection Act? Does that fit in somewhere???

Confused...........................

I have been wronged in more ways that can be mentioned on here.

Autonomy said on 31 March 2011

I am a big believer and follower of policies and promises from the Secretary of State for Health. The NHS Constitution would be fantastic if it were followed. My own experience of treatment/surgery was awful. I complained and the complaint got completely out of hand. I truly cannot believe that this situation was allowed to occur.
I agreed to a second elective surgery which went wrong, when I agreed to have it repeated a week later and was discharged, I tried to contact the surgeon and booking coordinator etc. I even attended the hospital in question the day before my third surgery was due to take place to try to gain information as I had not received a admissions letter for what is classed as fairly major surgery. I was only told that surgery was still taking place and that I should show up the next morning and that I could still take pain relief. This information was all relayed to myself and a friend by a receptionist/clerk. I was so stressed out I contacted PALS during the night via email. After my surgery which was very painful, I phoned PALS from the ward to see if they had received the email and they stated they had not. It was not good to hear the surgeon ask another healthcare professional "What can we do to prevent this from happening again" the morning after the third surgery while I was still in the room. The question was not answered by the other person, I think they realised their mistake.
I complained, this was not treated seriously, I asked PALS to transfer/enquire about moving my treatment to another trust which one of the consultants said was possible and he would be happy to forward my case load on to another consultant. Yet they did not do this. I am truly shocked and disgusted at this lack of communication and think that the NHS should be ashamed of themselves. I really feel violated. Rights, what rights????

glynisrose said on 05 March 2011

Choices would be nice, also not being blackmailed / bullied into having whatever treatment the consultant says would be nice too.
I questioned my endocrinologists suggestions and they have discharged me! I now can't get prescriptions for my medication. I wonder how long it takes you to die of hypothyroid? I can imagine with no medication it will seem like forever!!

Annh8456 said on 25 February 2011

A choice of being able to register with a dentist would be nice. All the practices in my area are even closed to waiting lists. No wonder people's teeth are rotting!

Terry Cunningham said on 25 December 2010

I have been trying for a decade to establish NHS funding for Heliotherapy (natural phototherapy) for "severe psoriasis" despite this treatment being accepted and funded by the health systems of most EAA coutries, the NHS Dermatology profession seem to be strongly opposed to Heliotherapy. I wonder if there is any correlation between this fact and the fact that leading members of the UK dermatology profession are employed by the parmacetuical industry manufacturing systemic drugs approved by NICE on the strength of "industry sponsored trials and expert opinion" by dermatology professors presented to NICE appraisal and consultation commitees