Carers Health Information
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Consultation on the NHS Constitution

The draft NHS Constitution has just been published for consultation alongside a 10 year plan for the NHS. The draft Constitution gives carers prominence as partners in care and builds on the NHS commitments to carers, set out earlier in June 2008 in the new National Carers Strategy. The closing date for the consultation for the NHS Constitution is 17th October 2008. 

The Constitution begins with seven key principles to "guide the NHS in all it does". 

1. The NHS provides a comprehensive service available to all
2. Access to NHS Services is based on clinical need, not an individual's ability to pay
3. The NHS aspires to high standards of excellence and professionalism
4. NHS services must reflect the needs and preferences of patients, their families and their Carers
5. The NHS works across organisational boundaries and in partnership with other organisations in the interest of patients, local communities and the wider population
6. The NHS is committed to providing best value for taxpayers' money and the most effective and fair use of finite resources
7. The NHS is accountable to the public, communities and patients it serves 

The consultation also makes this pledge "The NHS will strive to work in partnership with you, your family and Carers. Within principle 4 outlined above it states 'patients, with their families and Carers, where appropriate, will be involved in and consulted on all decisions about their care and treatment."  The 10 year plan states that: "Increased control will not be limited to those being cared for, but will also extend to carers." This in turn builds on the commitments contained in the NHS Operating Framework for 2008/9. Within this document it outlines the use by Primary Care Trusts (PCT) to use NHS Choices and PCT publications to provide practical support and information for patients, Carers and clinicians to support choice. The framework also outlines how PCT's should aim to create more personalised services which provide health and wellbeing outcomes that are as good as possible for the patient and Carer. Also  reflecting carers needs in and taking on board carers views about the person they care for, recognising carers need for a break. The framework also outlines the issues if a Carer need to go into hospital for an operation and how the PCT should support the Carer and the person being cared for by providing replacement care.

The recently published National Carers Strategy  has highlighted NHS developments to support Carers with allocation of £150 million for breaks. The strategy also highlights:

• Pilots of annual health checks for Carers in a number of PCT's
• Pilots to provide a training programme for GP's to help them better understand Carers needs. If successful it may be rolled out nationally
• Government is considering making projects offering emotional support to Carers a priority for funding
• Pilots looking at how the NHS can better support Carers. They will look at involving Carers in diagnosis, care and discharge planning as well as greater support for Carers in GP practices and hospitals.