NHS at 60: building an NHS that is fair to all

As part of our mission to build a fairer Britain, in the 60th anniversary year of the National Health Service, Labour is publishing the first ever NHS Constitution, setting out the core principles of an NHS that is fair to all.

To ensure fair access to the most clinically and cost effective drugs and treatments, the draft Constitution sets out for the first time that all patients will have the right to NICE-approved drugs and treatments where their clinician recommends them, ending the so-called "postcode lottery".

Alan Johnson MP, Labour's Secretary of State for Health, said:

"This is a momentous point in the history of the NHS. As we approach the 60th anniversary of our health service, it is striking how its founding principles still endure and have resonance for staff, patients and public alike.

"The content of the Constitution was not dreamt up by me or civil servants in Whitehall. It is something that has arisen out of discussions with thousands of NHS staff and patients across the country.

For patients, the Constitution collects together important rights around access to drugs and treatments, health services, information, quality of care and environment, dignity & respect and complaint and redress.

The consultation on the draft NHS Constitution is open until 17 October 2008. You can download copies of the draft Constitution, and information on how to take part in the consultation, from:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_085814

Meanwhile, the Tories continue to oppose reform and would put the future of the NHS at risk.

David Cameron keeps making promises to various audiences - patients, GPs or NHS staff - without setting out the real risks that his policies present to the NHS services that patients want.

Where Labour delivers fairness for all, Tory health policy would be unfair for patients and the public, with shorter GP opening hours, an end to waiting time guarantees and cuts to public services.

They claim to be in favour of local decision-making, but in London, in Manchester and now in every region of the country the Tories are opposing plans developed by local clinicians to improve services. They are more interested in short-term political points scoring than in improving the NHS. You can never achieve the world-class outcomes they say they aspire to without being prepared to improve the service at the same time.