Pledges

The NHS Constitution contains pledges which the NHS is committed to achieve. The pledges are not legally binding and cannot be guaranteed for everyone all of the time, because they express an ambition to improve, going above and beyond legal rights.

 Access to health services

1. The NHS commits to provide convenient, easy access to services within the waiting times set out in the Handbook to the NHS Constitution

2. The NHS commits to make decisions in a clear and transparent way, so that patients and the public can understand how services are planned and delivered

3. The NHS commits to make the transition as smooth as possible when you are referred between services, and to include you in relevant discussions

What this pledge means for patients

 Quality of care and environment

1. 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

2. The NHS commits to continuous improvement in the quality of services you receive, identifying and sharing best practice in quality of care and treatments

What this pledge means for patients

 Nationally approved treatments, drugs and programmes

1. The NHS commits to provide screening programmes as recommended by the UK National Screening Committee

What this pledge means for patients

 Respect, consent and confidentiality

1. The NHS commits to share with you any letters sent between clinicians about your care

What this pledge means for patients

 Informed Choice

1. The NHS commits to inform you about the healthcare services available to you, locally and nationally

2. The NHS commits to offer you easily accessible, reliable and relevant information to enable you to participate fully in your own healthcare decisions and to support you in making choices. This will include information on the quality of clinical services where there is robust and accurate information available

What this pledge means for patients

 Involvement in your healthcare and in the NHS

1. The NHS commits to provide you with the information you need to influence and scrutinise the planning and delivery of NHS services

2. The NHS commits to work in partnership with you, your family, carers and representatives

What this pledge means for patients

 Complaint and redress

1. The NHS commits to ensure you are treated with courtesy and you receive appropriate support throughout the handling of a complaint; and the fact that you have complained will not adversely affect your future treatment

2. The NHS commits when mistakes happen, to acknowledge them, apologise, explain what went wrong and put things right quickly and effectively

3. The NHS commits to ensure that the organisation learns lessons from complaints and claims and uses these to improve NHS services

What this pledge means for patients