NHS Constitution

The NHS belongs to all of us

The NHS is there for us from the moment we’re born. It takes care of us and of 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 when it was established in 1948 – to provide high-quality healthcare that’s free and for everyone.

It took almost a year of discussions, research and consultation with staff, patients and the public to produce the ideas which went into the NHS Constitution. This means it is based on ideas from the people who are closest to the NHS.

No government can change the Constitution without consulting everyone who is involved in the NHS including staff, patients and the public. It is a promise that the NHS will always be there for you.

How the NHS Constitution affects you

The NHS Constitution brings together in one place what patients, the public, and staff can expect from the NHS. It also explains what you can do to support the NHS, help it work effectively and ensure its resources are used responsibly.

One of the most important things the NHS Constitution does is to set out your rights as an NHS patient. These rights cover how you 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 to see a consultant, you can usually choose the hospital you go to. You might want to choose a hospital that has better results for your treatment, or one near friends and family. You can search and compare hospitals at www.nhs.uk/comparehospitals or ask your GP for information.
You can view your own health records. You don’t have to give a reason to see them. Talk to your GP or contact your local Patient Services Team.
From 1st April 2010, patients have the right to start treatment within a maximum of 18 Weeks from a GP referral and to be seen by a specialist where cancer is suspected within 2 weeks of a GP referral. Where this is not possible you have the right to ask the NHS to take all reasonable steps to offer you an alternative provider. Click here to find out how you can to raise an enquiry about your referral waiting times. To find out more about what 18 Weeks referral to treatment time means for you please visit NHS Choices.
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. If you stay in hospital, you should not have to share sleeping or bathroom facilities with people of the opposite sex, except on the rare occasions where you need very specialised or urgent care.
Statement on Single Sex Accomodation in Sheffield
You have the right to have any complaint you make about the NHS dealt with efficiently and investigated properly.
How to raise an enquiry or make a complaint

You can read all your rights as an NHS patient by downloading the NHS Constitution below.

The promises the NHS makes to you

The NHS Constitution makes certain pledges which the NHS 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 commits to provide convenient, easy access to services. Over three-quarters of GP surgeries now offer extended opening hours. Many areas are also establishing GP-led health centres which offer walk-in and bookable GP appointments 8am–8pm, seven days a week.
Visiting your GP
Sheffield City GP Health Centre
The NHS commits to inform you about local and national healthcare services. Visit NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk/choices to find out what services and treatments are available and where
The NHS commits to ensure its services are delivered in a clean and safe environment. Tell your GP practice or hospital if you are concerned about its facilities and take part in the regular patient surveys the NHS uses to improve its care.

You can see all the pledges that the NHS makes to patients by downloading the NHS Constitution below.

There are seven principles which set out how the NHS should act and make decisions. These principles are underpinned by a set of values which were agreed by NHS staff, patients and the public.

The care you receive from the NHS should always measure up to these principles, which are:

The NHS provides a comprehensive service, available to all.
Access to NHS services is based on clinical need, not an individual’s ability to pay.
The NHS aspires to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism.
NHS services must reflect the needs and preferences of patients, their families and their carers.
The NHS works across organisational boundaries and in partnership with other organisations in the interest of patients, local communities and the wider population.
The NHS is committed to providing best value for taxpayers’ money and the most effective, fair and sustainable use of finite resources.
The NHS is accountable to the public, communities and patients that it serves.

What the NHS needs from you in return

The NHS is a valuable 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 health and well-being, and taking personal responsibility for your health where you can
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

Have your say in your healthcare

The NHS Constitution recognises how important it is for patients to have a voice in their care. You can have your say in a number of different ways, from choosing which GP you go to, to getting involved in shaping NHS services where you live.
NHS Sheffield consultations
Get involved with NHS Sheffield
NHS Choices - Get Involved