Your NHS rights
The NHS Constitution sets out your rights as an NHS patient in England — including free care, being involved in decisions, and the right to complain.
- Updated August 2026
- Clinical review pending
- 1 source
At a glance
- The NHS Constitution sets out your rights as an NHS patient in England.
- These include free care, involvement in decisions, access to records and the right to complain.
On this page (2 sections)
Overview
In England, the NHS Constitution sets out the rights you have as a patient and the pledges the NHS makes to you. These include the right to receive NHS services free of charge, apart from limited exceptions allowed by law, and to be treated with dignity and respect [1].
What your rights cover
Your rights also cover being involved in decisions about your care, accessing your health records, choosing your GP practice, having your information kept confidential, and being able to complain if things go wrong [1].
Sources
- Department of Health & Social Care (GOV.UK). The NHS Constitution for England (opens in new tab) Updated 17 August 2023. Accessed 12 August 2026.
About this page
- Written by
- Consumer Health editorial team
- Medical review
- Pending — this page has not yet been reviewed by a named clinician. Read our medical review policy.
- Last updated
- August 2026
- Next review due
- August 2027
Important: This information is for general guidance only and does not replace professional medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition. Always speak to a qualified healthcare professional — such as your GP or pharmacist — for advice about your individual circumstances, and do not start, stop or change any prescribed treatment based only on this page. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 999. Consumer Health is an independent health-information resource and is not the NHS or a government body.
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