NHS constitution to come into force

The time patients have to wait for treatment on the National Health Service will be enshrined in law, the Government has said.

The NHS Constitution, which will come into effect from the beginning of next month, will include targets for emergency cancer referrals, Health Secretary Andy Burnham announced.

The minister has also pledged to work on developing a right for people to die at home if they wished. Marie Curie Cancer Care will be working with the secretary of state in pursuit of this issue.

It came as the Tories called on the Government to scrap targets, which shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley claimed was forcing staff to "focus on ticking boxes not patients".

Mr Burnham said a consultation on legal rights for patients had been supported by nine out of 10 people.

Patients will have the right to start treatment by a consultant within 18 weeks of GP referral and to be seen by a specialist within two weeks of an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer.

If this does not happen, the NHS will be legally obliged to take all reasonable steps to offer them a range of alternative providers.

The new rights will also ensure that everyone aged 40-74 will be entitled to an NHS Health Check every five years.

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