NHS Constitution - your patient rights
The NHS belongs to us all.
The NHS Constitution brought together in one place what the NHS does, what it stands for and the commitments it should live up to. It describes and renews our commitment to the values and enduring principles of the NHS.
Your rights
Your rights as an NHS patient
- If your GP refers you for treatment, you have the right for any non-emergency treatment that you need 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
NHS North East, the strategic health authority for the region, has a comprehensive website dedicated to the NHS Constitution. The website contains the consultation document and handbook, along with information in alternative formats.
