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NHS Constitution plans to strengthen privacy, dignity and safety
The Department of Health and Social Care has announced proposed updates to the NHS Constitution for England. In the proposed changes, patients will be empowered to request that intimate care is carried out by someone of the same biological sex, where reasonably possible. The updated NHS Constitution aims to
reinforce the NHS’s commitment to providing single-sex wards. This includes setting out that placing transgender patients in single-room accommodation is permissible under the Equality Act 2010 when it is appropriate, such as respecting a patient’s wish to be in a single-sex ward. The government has been clear that biological sex matters. The constitution proposal makes clear what patients can expect from NHS services in meeting their needs, including the different biological needs of the sexes. Illnesses and conditions that we know impact men and women differently should be communicated in a clear and accurate way. The consultation also plans to embed the right for patients’ and their loved ones’ access to a rapid review from outside the care team if the patient is deteriorating. The importance of this pledge has been made clear by the tragic story of Martha Mills. The government will consider responses from
everyone including patients, the public, staff and NHS organisations, before publishing a response and a new NHS Constitution. Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins, said: “We want to make it abundantly clear that if a patient wants same- sex care they should have access to it wherever reasonably possible. “We have always been clear that sex matters and our services should respect that. By putting this in the NHS Constitution, we’re highlighting the importance of balancing the rights and needs of all patients to make a healthcare system that is faster,
crucial to ensuring the principles underpinning our NHS work for everyone. This is about putting patients first, giving them the dignity and respect that they deserve when they are at their most vulnerable. Our plans include accommodating requests for same-sex intimate care and respecting single-sex wards. We’ll also recognise the important role of patients’ loved ones in raising concerns about their care.” The Constitution aims to safeguard the principles
simpler and fairer for all.” Additional updates the government is proposing
include: l Embedding the commitment for patients and their family members in acute and specialist settings to initiate a rapid review of care from outside their initial care team, where the patient’s condition is deteriorating. Not only does this provide a boost to patient safety, but it also puts patients at the heart of their own care.
l Ensuring the health system works together to understand the needs of different groups within each community and reduce disparities in access, experience and outcomes for all.
l Strengthening responsibilities on patients to cancel or reschedule appointments and on the NHS to communicate appointment information clearly.
l Making clear that patients can expect their physical and mental healthcare to be person- centred, co-ordinated and tailored to their needs.
l Reinforcing the NHS’s commitment to unpaid carers.
Minister for Women’s Health Strategy, Maria Caulfield, said: “Updating the NHS Constitution is
and values of the NHS. It empowers staff to help improve the care it provides by setting out legal rights for patients and staff when using NHS services. It also sets out clear expectations about the behaviour of both staff and patients, and the role they need to play in supporting the NHS. The proposed updates to the Constitution will also support the government’s mission to help people to remain in, and return to work, which reflects the important impact that work can have on a person’s health and wellbeing. Louise Ansari, Chief Executive of Healthwatch
England, said: “The NHS Constitution plays a crucial role in shaping the culture of our NHS and helping the public to know their rights. “Since the NHS Constitution launched, it has
helped to shift the balance of power from services towards patients and their families. But, with only a third of people knowing their rights, there is still a long way to go. “Given the challenges our NHS faces, a
conversation to reaffirm and raise awareness of the most important rights to the public has never been more timely. We urge everyone to take part in the consultation and have their say. This is your opportunity to send a clear message about the rights you hold most dear.” To have your say, visit: https://consultations.
dhsc.gov.uk/en/660d21db9ecc4223dd0174bf
New screening trial to save thousands of lives
UCL academics will co-lead Prostate Cancer UK’s new £42m screening trial, which aims to find the best way to screen men for prostate cancer and double the number of lives saved. The TRANSFORM trial has also been backed by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Movember, who have committed £17.5million towards the trial between them. Among the six research leads are Professors
Mark Emberton and Caroline Moore from the UCL Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, who will work with co-leads from Imperial College
London and Queen Mary University of London, as well as 16 co-applicants from across the UK. TRANSFORM will begin recruitment of hundreds of thousands of men from across the UK in 2025. It is hoped the first results will be available in as little as three years’ time. Previous trials using prostate- specific antigen (PSA) tests and biopsy to screen for prostate cancer have shown that it is possible to prevent between 8% and 20% of prostate cancer deaths, depending on how regularly men are screened. TRANSFORM will test new approaches that have the potential to reduce prostate cancer
deaths by up to 40%. With over 12,000 prostate cancer deaths in the UK alone, annually, this could mean thousands of men saved each year, and many thousands more worldwide. In the first stage of the trial, which will include 12,500 men, the researchers will compare four potential screening options, including PSA blood tests, faster versions of MRI scans and genetic testing to identify those at higher risk. These new approaches will be compared to the current NHS diagnostic process to show which perform best and should be taken forward into the second, larger stage of the trial.
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