NHS: Handbooks

(asked on 22nd May 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government who is responsible for amendments to the NHS Constitution Handbook; and what is the process for determining such changes.


Answered by
Lord O'Shaughnessy Portrait
Lord O'Shaughnessy
This question was answered on 5th June 2018

In accordance with the Health Act 2009 we are currently reviewing the handbook that accompanies the NHS Constitution and will publish a revised version in summer 2018. As the handbook is an explanatory document, and cannot alter the NHS Constitution itself, this is a technical update that will bring the handbook up to date with policy developments since it was last published in 2015. Changes will be based largely on contributions provided from within the Department, from NHS England and from Public Health England.

As we set out in response to recommendations on National Health Service sustainability made by the House of Lords, we are looking particularly closely at the section in the handbook that explains patient responsibilities in the NHS Constitution. We will include a stronger statement about the role that patients and the public can play in supporting NHS sustainability by looking after their own health, adopting healthy behaviours, and making appropriate use of NHS resources. We will also point out where there is further information on the NHS website.

When the revised handbook is published, we will encourage NHS England, Public Health England and other stakeholders – including Healthwatch England as the independent national champion for people who use health and social care services – to promote it through their extensive networks. We will also publicise it through the NHS Constitution Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Reticulating Splines