Have your say on the NHS Constitution

Date published: 18 January 2010

It's not too late for people in Bury to have their say on a proposed charter of patients rights in the new NHS Constitution.

As well as capturing the purpose, principles and values of the NHS, the Constitution brings together a number of rights, pledges and responsibilities for staff and patients alike.

The current consultation proposes new patient rights to:

• Treatment within a maximum of 18 weeks from a GP referral and to be seen by a cancer specialist within 2 weeks from a GP referral, or where this is not possible, for the NHS to take reasonable steps to offer a range of alternative providers; and
  NHS Health Checks for those aged 40 to 74 to assess their risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease
• NHS Bury is encouraging as many people as possible to find out more about this consultation, and to have their say before the consultation closing date, 5th February 2010

The consultation also seeks views on going even further and including more rights in the future. These could include:

• the right to choose to die at home;
• the right to access NHS dentistry;
• the right to personal health budgets;
• the right to choose a GP practice offering extended access to evening and weekend appointments;
• the right to key diagnostic tests for suspected cancer patients within one week of seeing a GP, with an interim milestone of 2 weeks

There are a number of ways people can have their say on the consultation.

By email: enquiries@bury.nhs.uk

By post: NHS Bury Engagement Team, 2nd Floor, Maple House, Bury. BL9 0AR

To obtain a hard copy of the consultation document, contact NHS Bury's Engagement Team on 0161 762 7334

The closing date for comments is 5th February 2010.