NHS Constitution: Principles and Values

The Core Values of the NHS

The NHS was founded in 1948 by Aneurin Bevan. When he founded it, there were 3 core values of the NHS:

  1. Meets the needs of everyone.

  2. Free at the point of delivery.

  3. Based on clinical need not ability to pay.

The NHS Constitution

The NHS Constitution is a great guide to refer to when justifying your answer to any ethical or situational question (you may even be able to integrate it into personal attribute questions). If you can memorise a few principles and values, this will really impress the interviewer. In 2011 the Department of Health published the NHS Constitution. It contains 7 principles which were agreed upon by staff, patients and the public:

  1. The NHS provides a comprehensive service, available to all.

  2. Access to NHS services is based on clinical need and not individual’s ability to pay.

  3. The NHS aspires to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism.

  4. The patient will be at the heart of everything the NHS does.

  5. The NHS works across organisational boundaries.

  6. The NHS is committed to providing the best value for taxpayers’ money.

  7. The NHS is accountable to the public, communities and patients it serves.

From these 7 principles came 6 core values of the NHS Constitution:

  1. Working together for the patients.

  2. Respect and dignity.

  3. Commitment to quality of care/delivering the highest standards of care.

  4. Compassion.

  5. Improving lives.

  6. Equal care.

The NHS 6 C’s

When Jane Cummings was the Chief Nursing Officer for England she suggested the NHS 6 C’s:

  • Care - NHS staff should look after all of their patients.

  • Compassion - NHS staff should treat their patients with empathy, respect and dignity.

  • Courage - NHS Staff should stand up for what is right and whistleblow against malpractice (see: Hospital Scandals).

  • Competence - NHS Staff should acknowledge and act within their competency. As outlined by Good Medical Practice: “Good doctors […] are competent, keep their knowledge up-to-date...”.

  • Commitment - NHS Staff should be committed to delivering the highest standard of care.

  • Communication - NHS Staff effectively communicate both ways: listening to the patient and speaking to the patient. No decision about the patient should be made without the patient.