DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service. 17 October 2008
Health Minister
Ann Keen has been confirmed as the new ministerial lead for the
NHS Constitution, the Department of Health has announced. She
will oversee the development of the Constitution which will
empower both patients and staff by clearly setting out their
rights and responsibilities in one place for the first time.
The draft Constitution was published on 30 June and is a key part
of Lord Darzi's review of the NHS. Over the summer every NHS
authority has consulted with local people to gather their
feedback. The consultation closes today (Friday 17th October) and
responses will now be reviewed to develop a final Constitution.
Commenting on the NHS Constitution Ann Keen said:
"I look forward to leading the process of creating a
Constitution which will safeguard the future of the NHS. Our
focus over the next few weeks will be to make sure all the
feedback we have gathered through consultation over the summer is
used to produce a Constittution which reflects the needs of a
modern NHS and patients."
Feedback on the draft NHS Constitution has also been gathered
centrally by the Department of Health led by a Constitutional
Advisory Forum (CAF). The CAF will incorporate consultation
responses into a report to be presented to the Secretary of State
for Health. An official response to the Consultation will be
published following this report.
- Ends -
Notes to editors:
1. For further information please contact the Department of
Health press office on 020 7210 5221
2. The draft NHS Constitution can be viewed online at : http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_085814