Written question asked by Lord Lansley (Conservative) on Wednesday, 2 July 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 July 2008. It was answered by Ivan Lewis (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 July 2008 on behalf of the Department of Health.

NHS

Question: (2) pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2008, Official Report, columns 1762-63W, on the NHS: reorganisation, what work is being carried out on the case for an NHS constitution; what discussions his Department has had with (a) NHS staff, (b) patient groups and (c) others on the case for an NHS constitution; and on what dates.

Answer: The draft national health service constitution presented for consultation builds on an extensive development process, including a literature review, discussions with patients, the public and staff, contributions from a wide range of experts and think-tanks, and a major deliberative event with stakeholders in February 2008. Early drafts of the constitution were tested with these stakeholders, with experts and with patients, the public and staff. Patient and public groups told us it was useful to summarise their key rights in one place.The research to establish a set of NHS-wide values involved over 9,000 staff and over 5,500 patients and members of the public, as well as evidence from existing surveys of over 1 million patients.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 216937; 478 c1709W
Session: 2007-08
Related items: NHS: Reorganisation
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: NHS Standards Reorganisation
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk