Good Governance Handbook - HQIP

wait to be asked, because we care.
Improving lives. We strive to improve health and well-being and people’s experiences
of the NHS. We value excellence and professionalism wherever we find it – in the
everyday things that make people’s lives better as much as in clinical practice, service
improvements and innovation.
Working together for patients. We put patients first in everything we do, by reaching
out to staff, patients, carers, families, communities, and professionals outside the
NHS. We put the needs of patients and communities before organisational
boundaries.
Everyone counts. We use our resources for the benefit of the whole community, and
make sure nobody is excluded or left behind. We accept that some people need more
help, that difficult decisions have to be taken – and that when we waste resources we
waste others’ opportunities. We recognise that we all have a part to play in making
ourselves and our communities healthier.
6.4.3 Rights, pledges and responsibilities
The Constitution is to set out clearly what patients, the public and staff can expect
from the NHS and what the NHS expects from them in return. The Constitution
distinguishes between rights, pledges and responsibilities:
Rights. A right is a legal entitlement protected by law. The Constitution sets out a
number of rights, which include rights conferred explicitly by law and rights derived
from legal obligations imposed on NHS bodies and other healthcare providers. The
Constitution brings together these rights in one place but it does not create or replace
them.
Pledges. This Constitution also contains pledges which the NHS is committed to
achieve, supported by its management and regulatory systems. The pledges are not
legally binding and cannot be guaranteed for everyone all of the time, because they
express an ambition to improve, going above and beyond legal rights.
Responsibilities. The Constitution sets out expectations of how patients, the public
and staff can help the NHS work effectively and ensure that finite resources are used
fairly. This Handbook gives further information on those responsibilities.
6.5 Board etiquette (based on Common Purpose)
Boards should be explicit in their values and how they intend to conduct business.
The board should recognise the importance of constructive challenge and ensure
there is an equal degree of openness and transparency between board members. To
this end, many boards have adapted and adopted the protocol or etiquette
developed in the Integrated Governance Handbook2 from Common Purpose
principles.
Boards and their members should:
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