NHS Constitution for England

{{Short description|Document from England's National Health Service}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

The NHS Constitution for England is a document that sets out objectives of the National Health Service, rights and responsibilities of the various parties involved in health care, (staff, trust board, patients' rights and responsibilities) and the guiding principles which govern the service.{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england |title=The NHS Constitution for England |publisher=NHS choices |date=27 July 2015 |accessdate=27 July 2014}} Unlike a real constitution, the document is not itself legally enforceable, though it purports to set out the rights of patients and staff.

First published on 21 January 2009, it was one of a number of recommendations in Lord Darzi’s report "High Quality Care for All" as part of a ten-year plan to provide the highest quality of care and service for patients in England.[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110506035152/http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/healthcare/nhsconstitution/index.htm Sourced from the National Archives] Previously, these rights and responsibilities had evolved in common law or through English or EU law, or were policy pledges by the NHS and UK government that have been written into the document.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}} It can be seen as a development of the ideas that began with the introduction of the Patient's Charter in 1991.{{Cite journal|date=2019|title=NHS England appoints RPS director for England to 'NHS Long Term Plan' advisory board|journal=The Pharmaceutical Journal|doi=10.1211/pj.2019.20206362|issn=2053-6186}}{{cite web |url=http://systems.hscic.gov.uk/infogov/caldicott/caldresources/consultationresps/consultnhsconstit.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021112030/http://systems.hscic.gov.uk/infogov/caldicott/caldresources/consultationresps/consultnhsconstit.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 October 2015 |title=A consultation on The NHS Constitution |publisher=Department of Health |type=pdf |page=13 |date=30 June 2008}}{{Cite book|last=Great Britain. Department of Health.|title=The NHS constitution : the NHS belongs to us all.|date=2012|publisher=Department of Health|oclc=863579933}} It is fairly brief and written in plain terms. Accompanying is a handbook which gives more information to patients and staff about the document, and also provides detail on the legislation that underpins the rights. A statement of NHS accountability also gives a clear account of the NHS system of accountability, transparency and responsibility.

The constitution was updated in 2013.{{Cite book |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/170642/Consultation_on_strengthening_the_NHS_Constitution_Government_response.PDF |title=Consultation on strengthening the NHS Constitution: Government response |publisher=Department for Health |year=2013}}