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The 6 NHS Core Values Explained

As aspiring medics, it's important to know as much as you can about the NHS, including the values they align themselves with. Here's a breakdown of each core NHS value and examples of them in practice.

The six NHS core values ensure that patients receive the best possible care. Before your Medical School interviews , make sure you confidently know what each value is. Take it one step further by preparing examples of how you’ve demonstrated each value yourself.

Written by Jenita Jona James

1. Respect And Dignity

All those who come into contact with the NHS will be treated with the utmost respect and dignity, whether that is patients, families or staff. This involves respecting others’ opinions, their needs, their privacy as well as promoting equality and diversity in the workplace.

If a Doctor didn’t respect a patient’s wishes, this would be a loss of autonomy for the patient even if the Doctor was acting on the principle of beneficence . It makes the patient feel like they have not been listened to and reinforces the ‘Doctor is always right’ paternalistic mentality which Medicine has grown out of over the years.

For interviews:

Have you seen any Doctors respect their patient’s wishes even if it was not what was best for them medically? How did nurses help patients preserve their dignity? This could be something as small as drawing the curtains when they get changed.

This topic could come up in the form of ethics interview questions – so make sure you understand the four pillars of ethics , too!

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2. Commitment To Quality Of Care

The care that the NHS provide its patients should be of the highest quality, and if it isn’t, they should look into what’s going wrong. They can be done in a few ways. Clinical audits compare current practices to the gold standard and where they don’t match, change is implemented.

Another way is to encourage patients, families, carers and staff to provide feedback on the care they receive. This shows that the NHS is receptive to making improvements and that they really value the opinions of the public.

You could talk about how Doctors have to be revalidated every few years to ensure their knowledge is kept up to date. Also, mention the importance of clinical audits and what would happen if we didn’t do them. What are the feedback/complaints processes at your local hospital? Sometimes it’s the little things that really make a difference.

For this value, in my interviews, I talked about how I used to write down how each patient liked their tea/coffee instead of asking them each time and made it just the way they liked it when they wanted a cup of tea. It adds a little personal touch when they are in an unfamiliar environment without friends/family, especially during the pandemic.

You may find that any of your observations of commitment to quality of care can enhance your answers to depth and breadth of interest interview questions. Ensure you’re confident in being able to overlap the two.

3. Compassion

This one’s an easy one! This value is about being kind and empathetic towards your patients. Put yourselves in their shoes and think about how you would like to be treated if you were them.

Hopefully, you have all been able to do some volunteering and have some examples for when you have demonstrated understanding. If not, think about your personal life. Have you had to console a friend who was upset about something? Have you lent an ear to someone who just wanted to vent about things?

It’s possible you could be asked empathy questions at interview, which is a perfect opportunity for you to weave examples where you’ve demonstrated compassion. Take a look at the empathy questions page and have a go.

4. Improving Lives

The NHS seeks to improve not just the health of each patient, but their whole lives – think of a biopsychosocial approach. A patient’s health condition may affect their physical health but also their mental health, their occupation, their family relationships and so on. So when you provide treatment for a patient, you provide the best treatment that is suited to them in their current life situation.

The NHS also focusses on prevention of diseases, especially heart disease, diabetes etc. After all, prevention is better than cure. This involves creating leaflets and TV adverts concerning public health  and encouraging people to lead healthy lives by exercising, eating better, and getting a good amount of sleep.

Think of a patient you may have seen where their health condition impacted their whole life, and the Doctor took all this into account before making a decision on their care. For example, isotretinoin is a very effective medication for severe acne. However, you would not give this to a woman who is wanting to get pregnant as it can harm the baby.

Your potential to become a Doctor that is able to improve the lives of patients could be tested when personal insight interview questions are asked – so be absolutely confident in your skillsets when answering!

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5. Working Together For Patients

Another easy one! All staff working together to provide a reliable, compassionate health service for their patients is what the NHS is built on. This is important so that patients feel like they come first, and that their needs are put above all else.

Think about the work shadowing you have done. How did the Doctors work with the nurses to provide care for the patient? How well did they work with other health care professionals? Talk about what would happen if this teamwork and communication broke down, and how it would affect patient care.

This is a very likely topic to come up during teamwork interview questions , so make sure you’re prepared!

6. Everyone Counts

This value is about the fact that everyone matters. Everyone should be included, and not discriminated against on any grounds when providing care. It is also about distributive justice and the fair allocation of resources to those in need.

This can be a hard one to give examples for, but it can be weaved into distributive justice type ethical questions. For example, have you witnessed instances where a Doctor’s action prioritised one group of patients over another? If so, how was the decision justified? There may be cases where it is not – such as inequality that impacts the healthcare services provided to BAME patients.

As an aspiring medic, it is a given that you are passionate about helping people – so think about how you can tie that in with this particular core value when answering background and motivation questions .

There will be nuances of interpretation of the NHS values between different individuals, but the overall idea of it is the same. In fact, it might be even better to take each value and explore what they really mean to YOU. This will help you understand them better and will help you relate them to your own experiences.

Make sure you check out our NHS hot topics guide so you can begin to think about how these core values can be applied in different situations. To supplement your NHS knowledge, go to our guide to the current state of the NHS .

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Core NHS Values

What are the six core nhs values.

When applying for any healthcare course or role in the NHS, successful candidates will need to demonstrate their commitment to the six core NHS values. 

Work through the activities below to explore what each of the core NHS values actually means and plan how you would demonstrate those core NHS values in interviews and beyond. 

Values based recruitment: what to expect.

All NHS-funded Higher Education courses are required to follow a specific recruitment framework, which includes demonstrating the core NHS values. Find out more about what that might mean for you and your student journey.

1: Working Together for Patients

The NHS is built on the importance of all staff working together to provide reliable, compassionate care for all patients. This core value means putting patient interests first - above any institutional interests and boundaries.

2: Respect and Dignity

Every person that comes into contact with the NHS should always be treated with respect and dignity. This core value involves respecting everyone’s personal aspirations, needs and privacy as well as promoting equality and diversity in the workplace.

3: Commitment to Quality of Care

Throughout the NHS, staff and patients collaborate to ensure that patients receive the highest quality of care possible. This core value means that continuous feedback and evaluation is necessary to ensure that any and all improvements can be made.

4: Compassion

Treating individual patients, carers and relatives with sensitivity and kindness is a core NHS Value. This means NHS staff will search for things they can do, however small, to give comfort and relieve suffering. Equally, NHS staff should also expect to work in an environment that is compassionate and inclusive.

5: Improving Lives

The NHS ensures that patient’s receive treatment that prioritises their health and wellbeing in all aspects of their life. This core NHS value means considering physical and mental wellbeing alongside they’re ability to carry out daily activities. As part of this commitment, the NHS also provides health information and promotes healthy living to the public as a whole.

6: Everyone Counts

Resources should be fairly distributed and no one is discriminated against or left behind to ensure NHS services are maximised for the benefit of everyone. This is a core NHS value and guides work and decision making.

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• 06 May 2020

What your nursing personal statement should say about you

• Claire Carmichael Registered Nurse
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• Johanna Mancelita

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This is a question I asked myself when I wrote my nursing personal statement: ‘What do they want from me? What do they really want to hear?’.

You can write as much or little as possible on a personal statement (within the given word count), but what you write has to count - I’d say it was more about quality over quantity with this one.

But hopefully, I can give you some good quality information to help you write the perfect statement to bag you that interview and hopefully, the job!

Firstly, every statement should be unique to the role you’re applying for; so, remember to change it for every time you apply for a new job.

Secondly, always look at the Trust’s values, person specification and any other information they have uploaded for you; this is going to tell you what they are expecting from you to guide you to write your statement.

You will need to follow their essential and desirable criteria and give examples of how you have achieved these.

Upload or create your CV on Nurses.co.uk. Our CV building tool is designed specifically for UK healthcare. Use it to apply for jobs and get hired.

Now, what do most Trusts look for?

From my experience they want you to be the 6 Cs of Nursing; Care, Compassion, Commitment, Courage, Competence, Communication.

So, you have to demonstrate this within your statement along with some nice key themes such as; being empathetic, maintain dignity, being patient centred and showing trust - Trust values are normally built on these.

Furthermore, Trusts will want to provide the best care possible to patients and they want to see how you meet this through your statement and then in your interview.

Is at the heart of nursing and the care you provide should help to improve an individual’s health and wellbeing.

They might also want to see that you genuinely care about other people and helping out.

This is how care is given which is based on empathy, dignity and respect.

This refers to the commitment to paitients and their individual care and overall experience.

This helps you to do the right thing at the right time.

It also enables you to speak up when needed.

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However, everyone will be writing the same skills and experience (more than likely), so you also want to add something to make yourself stand out from the crowd .

Your statement should show you as a person and not just a generic piece of writing of what you can and can’t do.

Moreover, you need to shine, show that personality and passion through your writing.

Some personal statements I have been asked to read, have genuinely given me goose bumps, because you can feel that passion through the page, it’s lovely.

Nonetheless, I know it can be quite hard to get your head in the right place to do this.

Something I do, is, close my eyes and visualise the place, time, experience that I want to talk about.

I put myself back into that place and how lovely it made me feel at the time, which brings back those feelings and I will start writing.

Your statement should also show how committed you are to nursing and your long term goals should incorporate this.

Trusts want to see you are in it for the long run, not just a quick job fix at the time.

Some other things that would be worth mentioning are:

Multi-professional working

How you can effectively work within the multi-disciplinary team and build good relationships with other professionals.

Give examples of how you have done this and why it has benefited your team.

Administering medication safely

How you avoid drug errors?

What thing’s do you do?

This will show you are practising safely and will continue to do so when working for the Trust you’re applying for.

Accurate record keeping

However you have kept records whether it is paper and pen or on a computer you have to show how you did this and how you maintained confidentiality.

You need to show that you can write legible and accurately, which is why you need to get someone to proofread your personal statement just in case too!

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How you keep up to date with the most recent guidelines, policies and practices.

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It's important that our students on health care, social care and dental courses have the right values – and demonstrate the appropriate behaviours – that are required to work in the field.

That's why for our health care, social care and dental courses, we make sure the values outlined in the NHS Constitution are embedded in everything we do, from the processes and materials used during the application process, to the teaching and support you'll experience once your course begins.

What is the NHS Constitution?

The NHS constitution sets out rights for patients, public and staff. It also outlines the NHS' commitments to patients and staff, and the responsibilities that the public, patients and staff owe to one another to ensure that the NHS operates fairly and effectively.

The constitution sets out a commitment for government to produce an up-to-date statement of NHS accountability to explain how decision-making works in the NHS. You can find this at the UK government's ‘Guide to the Healthcare System in England’ page.

All NHS bodies and private and third sector providers supplying NHS services are required by law to take account of the constitution in their decisions and actions.

Demonstrating the values of the NHS Constitution when you apply

When you apply for a health and social care course at the University, we'll be looking for proof that you share the values outlined in the NHS Constitution. It's also an opportunity to show how you align with our mission, vision and values  and the principles outlined in our Student Charter .

Your personal statement is the first opportunity you'll have to do that – here are some helpful tips to help you write yours.

• Make it clear why are you interested in this profession, and tell us the story behind your interest in health and social care work
• Identify what work experience or volunteering you have undertaken and give any examples of great work you've done already
• Make the most of any directly relevant work experience or shadowing days
• Where possible, clearly identify behaviours that demonstrate that you have the values required to work in a health or social care environment
• Make the most of your course content and highlight any experiences that relate to your chosen course
• Demonstrate insight and understanding of the professional registered role you are interested in

Once we've reviewed your initial application, we may invite you for an interview – and that's another opportunity to demonstrate how your values align with those of the NHS and the University.

To prepare for the questions we'll ask, we suggest you:

• Read up on the course, the Faculty of Science and Health  and the University
• Research the profession you're interested in entering, including any professional bodies associated with it
• Research current news related the general area of health and social care
• Be prepared to talk about any relevant work experience you have
• Be prepared for questions around the NHS Constitution, and the values of the NHS and the University
• Practice dealing with ‘what if’ scenarios, some of which may be clinically based
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Healthcare and social care courses

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What are the NHS values?

Working in the NHS you will need to demonstrate the NHS Constitution values and work to them at all times.

Working together for patients

Patients come first in everything we do..

For example, we put the needs of patients before organisational boundaries to deliver excellent customer care. We speak up when things go wrong.

Respect and dignity

We value every person..

For example, we respect their aspirations and commitments, and seek to understand their priorities, needs, abilities and limits. We are honest and open about our point of view and what we can and cannot do.

Commitment to quality of care

We strive to deliver quality care every time..

For example, we encourage feedback from patients, families, carers, staff and the public. We use this to improve the care we provide.

We ensure that compassion is central to the care we provide.

For example, we search for the things we can do, however small, to give comfort and relieve suffering. We find time for patients, their families and carers, and our colleagues.

Improving lives

We strive to improve health and wellbeing..

For example, we cherish excellence and professionalism in clinical practice, service improvements and innovation. We recognise that all have a part to play in making ourselves, patients and our communities healthier.

Everyone counts

We maximise our resources for the benefit of the whole community.

For example, we make sure nobody is excluded, discriminated against or left behind. We accept that some people need more help, that difficult decisions have to be taken.

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The NHS Constitution for England

Updated 17 August 2023

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2023

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england/the-nhs-constitution-for-england

Introduction to the NHS Constitution

The NHS belongs to the people.

It is there to improve our health and wellbeing, supporting us to keep mentally and physically well, to get better when we are ill and, when we cannot fully recover, to stay as well as we can to the end of our lives. It works at the limits of science – bringing the highest levels of human knowledge and skill to save lives and improve health. It touches our lives at times of basic human need, when care and compassion are what matter most.

The NHS is founded on a common set of principles and values that bind together the communities and people it serves – patients and public – and the staff who work for it.

This Constitution establishes the principles and values of the NHS in England. It sets out rights to which patients, public and staff are entitled, and pledges which the NHS is committed to achieve, together with responsibilities, which the public, patients and staff owe to one another to ensure that the NHS operates fairly and effectively. The Secretary of State for Health, all NHS bodies, private and voluntary sector providers supplying NHS services, and local authorities in the exercise of their public health functions are required by law to take account of this Constitution in their decisions and actions. References in this document to the NHS and NHS services include local authority public health services, but references to NHS bodies do not include local authorities. Where there are differences of detail these are explained in the Handbook to the Constitution.

The Constitution will be renewed every 10 years, with the involvement of the public, patients and staff. It is accompanied by the Handbook to the NHS Constitution, to be renewed at least every 3 years, setting out current guidance on the rights, pledges, duties and responsibilities established by the Constitution. These requirements for renewal are legally binding. They guarantee that the principles and values which underpin the NHS are subject to regular review and re-commitment; and that any government which seeks to alter the principles or values of the NHS, or the rights, pledges, duties and responsibilities set out in this Constitution, will have to engage in a full and transparent debate with the public, patients and staff.

Principles that guide the NHS

Seven key principles guide the NHS in all it does. They are underpinned by core NHS values which have been derived from extensive discussions with staff, patients and the public. These values are set out in the next section of this document.

1. The NHS provides a comprehensive service, available to all

It is available to all irrespective of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, belief, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity or marital or civil partnership status. The service is designed to improve, prevent, diagnose and treat both physical and mental health problems with equal regard. It has a duty to each and every individual that it serves and must respect their human rights. At the same time, it has a wider social duty to promote equality through the services it provides and to pay particular attention to groups or sections of society where improvements in health and life expectancy are not keeping pace with the rest of the population.

2. Access to NHS services is based on clinical need, not an individual’s ability to pay

NHS services are free of charge, except in limited circumstances sanctioned by Parliament.

3. The NHS aspires to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism

It provides high quality care that is safe, effective and focused on patient experience; in the people it employs, and in the support, education, training and development they receive; in the leadership and management of its organisations; and through its commitment to innovation and to the promotion, conduct and use of research to improve the current and future health and care of the population. Respect, dignity, compassion and care should be at the core of how patients and staff are treated not only because that is the right thing to do but because patient safety, experience and outcomes are all improved when staff are valued, empowered and supported.

4. The patient will be at the heart of everything the NHS does

It should support individuals to promote and manage their own health. NHS services must reflect, and should be coordinated around and tailored to, the needs and preferences of patients, their families and their carers. As part of this, the NHS will ensure that in line with the Armed Forces Covenant, those in the armed forces, reservists, their families and veterans are not disadvantaged in accessing health services in the area they reside. Patients, with their families and carers, where appropriate, will be involved in and consulted on all decisions about their care and treatment. The NHS will actively encourage feedback from the public, patients and staff, welcome it and use it to improve its services.

5. The NHS works across organisational boundaries

It works in partnership with other organisations in the interest of patients, local communities and the wider population. The NHS is an integrated system of organisations and services bound together by the principles and values reflected in the Constitution. The NHS is committed to working jointly with other local authority services, other public sector organisations and a wide range of private and voluntary sector organisations to provide and deliver improvements in health and wellbeing.

6. The NHS is committed to providing best value for taxpayers’ money

It is committed to providing the most effective, fair and sustainable use of finite resources. Public funds for healthcare will be devoted solely to the benefit of the people that the NHS serves.

7. The NHS is accountable to the public, communities and patients that it serves

The NHS is a national service funded through national taxation, and it is the government which sets the framework for the NHS and which is accountable to Parliament for its operation. However, most decisions in the NHS, especially those about the treatment of individuals and the detailed organisation of services, are rightly taken by the local NHS and by patients with their clinicians. The system of responsibility and accountability for taking decisions in the NHS should be transparent and clear to the public, patients and staff. The government will ensure that there is always a clear and up-to-date statement of NHS accountability for this purpose.

Patients, public and staff have helped develop this expression of values that inspire passion in the NHS and that should underpin everything it does. Individual organisations will develop and build upon these values, tailoring them to their local needs. The NHS values provide common ground for co-operation to achieve shared aspirations, at all levels of the NHS.

Working together for patients

Patients come first in everything we do. We fully involve patients, staff, families, carers, communities, and professionals inside and outside the NHS. We put the needs of patients and communities before organisational boundaries. We speak up when things go wrong.

Respect and dignity

We value every person – whether patient, their families or carers, or staff – as an individual, respect their aspirations and commitments in life, and seek to understand their priorities, needs, abilities and limits. We take what others have to say seriously. We are honest and open about our point of view and what we can and cannot do.

Commitment to quality of care

We earn the trust placed in us by insisting on quality and striving to get the basics of quality of care – safety, effectiveness and patient experience – right every time. We encourage and welcome feedback from patients, families, carers, staff and the public. We use this to improve the care we provide and build on our successes.

We ensure that compassion is central to the care we provide and respond with humanity and kindness to each person’s pain, distress, anxiety or need. We search for the things we can do, however small, to give comfort and relieve suffering. We find time for patients, their families and carers, as well as those we work alongside. We do not wait to be asked, because we care.

Improving lives

We strive to improve health and wellbeing and people’s experiences of the NHS. We cherish 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. We recognise that all have a part to play in making ourselves, patients and our communities healthier.

Everyone counts

We maximise our resources for the benefit of the whole community, and make sure nobody is excluded, discriminated against 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 opportunities for others.

Patients and the public: your rights and the NHS pledges to you

Everyone who uses the NHS should understand what legal rights they have. For this reason, important legal rights are summarised in this Constitution and explained in more detail in the Handbook to the NHS Constitution, which also explains what you can do if you think you have not received what is rightfully yours. This summary does not alter your legal rights.

The Constitution also contains pledges that the NHS is committed to achieve. Pledges go above and beyond legal rights. This means that pledges are not legally binding but represent a commitment by the NHS to provide comprehensive high quality services.

Access to health services

Your rights.

You have the right to receive NHS services free of charge, apart from certain limited exceptions sanctioned by Parliament.

You have the right to access NHS services. You will not be refused access on unreasonable grounds.

You have the right to receive care and treatment that is appropriate to you, meets your needs and reflects your preferences.

You have the right to expect your NHS to assess the health requirements of your community and to commission and put in place the services to meet those needs as considered necessary, and in the case of public health services commissioned by local authorities, to take steps to improve the health of the local community.

You have the right to authorisation for planned treatment in the EU under the UK EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement where you meet the relevant requirements.

You also have the right to authorisation for planned treatment in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein or Switzerland if you are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement and you meet the relevant requirements.

You have the right not to be unlawfully discriminated against in the provision of NHS services including on grounds of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, belief, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity or marital or civil partnership status.

You have the right to access certain services commissioned by NHS bodies within maximum waiting times, or for the NHS to take all reasonable steps to offer you a range of suitable alternative providers if this is not possible. The waiting times are described in the Handbook to the NHS Constitution.

NHS pledges

The NHS pledges to:

• provide convenient, easy access to services within the waiting times set out in the Handbook to the NHS Constitution
• make decisions in a clear and transparent way, so that patients and the public can understand how services are planned and delivered
• make the transition as smooth as possible when you are referred between services, and to put you, your family and carers at the centre of decisions that affect you or them

Quality of care and environment

You have the right to be treated with a professional standard of care, by appropriately qualified and experienced staff, in a properly approved or registered organisation that meets required levels of safety and quality.

You have the right to be cared for in a clean, safe, secure and suitable environment.

You have the right to receive suitable and nutritious food and hydration to sustain good health and wellbeing.

You have the right to expect NHS bodies to monitor, and make efforts to improve continuously, the quality of healthcare they commission or provide. This includes improvements to the safety, effectiveness and experience of services.

The NHS also pledges to identify and share best practice in quality of care and treatments.

Nationally approved treatments, drugs and programmes

You have the right to drugs and treatments that have been recommended by NICE for use in the NHS, if your doctor says they are clinically appropriate for you.

You have the right to expect local decisions on funding of other drugs and treatments to be made rationally following a proper consideration of the evidence. If the local NHS decides not to fund a drug or treatment you and your doctor feel would be right for you, they will explain that decision to you.

You have the right to receive the vaccinations that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommends that you should receive under an NHS-provided national immunisation programme.

The NHS also commits to provide screening programmes as recommended by the UK National Screening Committee.

Respect, consent and confidentiality

You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, in accordance with your human rights.

You have the right to be protected from abuse and neglect, and care and treatment that is degrading.

You have the right to accept or refuse treatment that is offered to you, and not to be given any physical examination or treatment unless you have given valid consent. If you do not have the capacity to do so, consent must be obtained from a person legally able to act on your behalf, or the treatment must be in your best interests.

You have the right to be given information about the test and treatment options available to you, what they involve and their risks and benefits.

You have the right of access to your own health records and to have any factual inaccuracies corrected.

You have the right to privacy and confidentiality and to expect the NHS to keep your confidential information safe and secure.

You have the right to be informed about how your information is used.

You have the right to request that your confidential information is not used beyond your own care and treatment and to have your objections considered, and where your wishes cannot be followed, to be told the reasons including the legal basis.

The NHS also pledges:

• to ensure those involved in your care and treatment have access to your health information so they can care for you safely and effectively
• that if you are admitted to hospital, you will not have to share sleeping accommodation with patients of the opposite sex, except where appropriate, in line with details set out in the Handbook to the NHS Constitution
• to anonymise the information collected during the course of your treatment and use it to support research and improve care for others
• where identifiable information has to be used, to give you the chance to object wherever possible
• to inform you of research studies in which you may be eligible to participate
• to share with you any correspondence sent between clinicians about your care

Informed choice

You have the right to choose your GP practice, and to be accepted by that practice unless there are reasonable grounds to refuse, in which case you will be informed of those reasons.

You have the right to express a preference for using a particular doctor within your GP practice, and for the practice to try to comply.

You have the right to transparent, accessible and comparable data on the quality of local healthcare providers, and on outcomes, as compared to others nationally.

You have the right to make choices about the services commissioned by NHS bodies and to information to support these choices. The options available to you will develop over time and depend on your individual needs. Details are set out in the Handbook to the NHS Constitution.

The NHS also pledges to:

• inform you about the healthcare services available to you, locally and nationally
• offer you easily accessible, reliable and relevant information in a form you can understand, and support to use it. This will enable you to participate fully in your own healthcare decisions and to support you in making choices. This will include information on the range and quality of clinical services where there is robust and accurate information available

Involvement in your healthcare and the NHS

You have the right to be involved in planning and making decisions about your health and care with your care provider or providers, including your end of life care, and to be given information and support to enable you to do this. Where appropriate, this right includes your family and carers. This includes being given the chance to manage your own care and treatment, if appropriate.

You have the right to an open and transparent relationship with the organisation providing your care. You must be told about any safety incident relating to your care which, in the opinion of a healthcare professional, has caused, or could still cause, significant harm or death. You must be given the facts, an apology, and any reasonable support you need.

You have the right to be involved, directly or through representatives, in the planning of healthcare services commissioned by NHS bodies, the development and consideration of proposals for changes in the way those services are provided, and in decisions to be made affecting the operation of those services.

• provide you with the information and support you need to influence and scrutinise the planning and delivery of NHS services
• work in partnership with you, your family, carers and representatives
• involve you in discussions about planning your care and to offer you a written record of what is agreed if you want one
• encourage and welcome feedback on your health and care experiences and use this to improve services

Complaint and redress

See the NHS website for information on how to make a complaint and other ways to give feedback on NHS services.

You have the right to have any complaint you make about NHS services acknowledged within three working days and to have it properly investigated.

You have the right to discuss the manner in which the complaint is to be handled, and to know the period within which the investigation is likely to be completed and the response sent.

You have the right to be kept informed of progress and to know the outcome of any investigation into your complaint, including an explanation of the conclusions and confirmation that any action needed in consequence of the complaint has been taken or is proposed to be taken.

You have the right to take your complaint to the independent Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman or Local Government Ombudsman, if you are not satisfied with the way your complaint has been dealt with by the NHS.

You have the right to make a claim for judicial review if you think you have been directly affected by an unlawful act or decision of an NHS body or local authority.

You have the right to compensation where you have been harmed by negligent treatment.

• ensure that you are treated with courtesy and you receive appropriate support throughout the handling of a complaint; and that the fact that you have complained will not adversely affect your future treatment
• ensure that when mistakes happen or if you are harmed while receiving health care you receive an appropriate explanation and apology, delivered with sensitivity and recognition of the trauma you have experienced, and know that lessons will be learned to help avoid a similar incident occurring again
• ensure that the organisation learns lessons from complaints and claims and uses these to improve NHS services

Patients and the public: your responsibilities

The NHS belongs to all of us. There are things that we can all do for ourselves and for one another to help it work effectively, and to ensure resources are used responsibly.

Please recognise that you can make a significant contribution to your own, and your family’s, good health and wellbeing, and take personal responsibility for it.

Please register with a GP practice – the main point of access to NHS care as commissioned by NHS bodies.

Please treat NHS staff and other patients with respect and recognise that violence, or the causing of nuisance or disturbance on NHS premises, could result in prosecution. You should recognise that abusive and violent behaviour could result in you being refused access to NHS services.

Please provide accurate information about your health, condition and status.

Please keep appointments, or cancel within reasonable time. Receiving treatment within the maximum waiting times may be compromised unless you do.

Please follow the course of treatment which you have agreed, and talk to your clinician if you find this difficult.

Please participate in important public health programmes such as vaccination.

Please ensure that those closest to you are aware of your wishes about organ donation.

Please give feedback – both positive and negative – about your experiences and the treatment and care you have received, including any adverse reactions you may have had. You can often provide feedback anonymously and giving feedback will not affect adversely your care or how you are treated. If a family member or someone you are a carer for is a patient and unable to provide feedback, you are encouraged to give feedback about their experiences on their behalf. Feedback will help to improve NHS services for all.

Staff: your rights and NHS pledges to you

It is the commitment, professionalism and dedication of staff working for the benefit of the people the NHS serves which really make the difference. High-quality care requires high-quality workplaces, with commissioners and providers aiming to be employers of choice.

All staff should have rewarding and worthwhile jobs, with the freedom and confidence to act in the interest of patients. To do this, they need to be trusted, actively listened to and provided with meaningful feedback. They must be treated with respect at work, have the tools, training and support to deliver compassionate care, and opportunities to develop and progress. Care professionals should be supported to maximise the time they spend directly contributing to the care of patients.

The Constitution applies to all staff, doing clinical or non-clinical NHS work – including public health – and their employers. It covers staff wherever they are working, whether in public, private or voluntary sector organisations.

Staff have extensive legal rights, embodied in general employment and discrimination law. These are summarised in the Handbook to the NHS Constitution. In addition, individual contracts of employment contain terms and conditions giving staff further rights.

The rights are there to help ensure that staff:

• have a good working environment with flexible working opportunities, consistent with the needs of patients and with the way that people live their lives
• have a fair pay and contract framework
• can be involved and represented in the workplace
• have healthy and safe working conditions and an environment free from harassment, bullying or violence
• are treated fairly, equally and free from discrimination
• can in certain circumstances take a complaint about their employer to an Employment Tribunal
• can raise any concern with their employer, whether it is about safety, malpractice or other risk, in the public interest.

In addition to these legal rights, there are a number of pledges, which the NHS is committed to achieve. Pledges go above and beyond your legal rights. This means that they are not legally binding but represent a commitment by the NHS to provide high-quality working environments for staff.

• provide a positive working environment for staff and to promote supportive, open cultures that help staff do their job to the best of their ability
• provide all staff with clear roles and responsibilities and rewarding jobs for teams and individuals that make a difference to patients, their families and carers and communities
• provide all staff with personal development, access to appropriate education and training for their jobs, and line management support to enable them to fulfil their potential
• provide support and opportunities for staff to maintain their health, wellbeing and safety
• engage staff in decisions that affect them and the services they provide, individually, through representative organisations and through local partnership working arrangements. All staff will be empowered to put forward ways to deliver better and safer services for patients and their families (pledge)
• to have a process for staff to raise an internal grievance (pledge)
• encourage and support all staff in raising concerns at the earliest reasonable opportunity about safety, malpractice or wrongdoing at work, responding to and, where necessary, investigating the concerns raised and acting consistently with the Employment Rights Act 1996

Staff: your responsibilities

All staff have responsibilities to the public, their patients and colleagues.

Important legal duties are summarised below.

You have a duty to accept professional accountability and maintain the standards of professional practice as set by the appropriate regulatory body applicable to your profession or role.

You have a duty to take reasonable care of health and safety at work for you, your team and others, and to co-operate with employers to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements.

You have a duty to act in accordance with the express and implied terms of your contract of employment.

You have a duty not to discriminate against patients or staff and to adhere to equal opportunities and equality and human rights legislation.

You have a duty to protect the confidentiality of personal information that you hold.

You have a duty to be honest and truthful in applying for a job and in carrying out that job.

The Constitution also includes expectations that reflect how staff should play their part in ensuring the success of the NHS and delivering high-quality care.

You should aim to:

• provide all patients with safe care, and to do all you can to protect patients from avoidable harm
• follow all guidance, standards and codes relevant to your role, subject to any more specific requirements of your employers
• maintain the highest standards of care and service, treating every individual with compassion, dignity and respect, taking responsibility not only for the care you personally provide, but also for your wider contribution to the aims of your team and the NHS as a whole
• find alternative sources of care or assistance for patients, when you are unable to provide this (including for those patients who are not receiving basic care to meet their needs)
• take up training and development opportunities provided over and above those legally required of your post
• play your part in sustainably improving services by working in partnership with patients, the public and communities
• raise any genuine concern you may have about a risk, malpractice or wrongdoing at work (such as a risk to patient safety, fraud or breaches of patient confidentiality), which may affect patients, the public, other staff or the organisation itself, at the earliest reasonable opportunity
• involve patients, their families, carers or representatives fully in decisions about prevention, diagnosis, and their individual care and treatment
• be open with patients, their families, carers or representatives, including if anything goes wrong; welcoming and listening to feedback and addressing concerns promptly and in a spirit of co-operation
• contribute to a climate where the truth can be heard, the reporting of, and learning from, errors is encouraged and colleagues are supported where errors are made
• view the services you provide from the standpoint of a patient, and involve patients, their families and carers in the services you provide, working with them, their communities and other organisations, and making it clear who is responsible for their care
• take every appropriate opportunity to encourage and support patients and colleagues to improve their health and wellbeing
• contribute towards providing fair and equitable services for all and play your part, wherever possible, in helping to reduce inequalities in experience, access or outcomes between differing groups or sections of society requiring health care
• inform patients about the use of their confidential information and to record their objections, consent or dissent
• provide access to a patient’s information to other relevant professionals, always doing so securely, and only where there is a legal and appropriate basis to do so.

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How to Write the National Honor Society Essay + Example

What’s Covered:

National honor society: four pillars and essay, five tips for writing your nhs essay, nhs essay example, time well spent.

What do former first lady Michelle Obama, actor Chadwick Boseman, singer-songwriters Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, and baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. have in common?  They were all members of the National Honor Society (NHS).

As you apply for membership in this national organization, remember NHS membership is based on meeting criteria in four areas that the NHS calls its four pillars: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character .  

Scholarship 

The first pillar, scholarship , requires that a student earns a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent. Many high schools set a higher GPA bar for their school’s chapter. If you meet your school’s academic requirement, congratulations, you’ve passed the first hurdle. 

Now it’s important that you carefully complete the application and write a compelling essay.  Most high schools require students to write a 300-500 word essay that showcases their commitment and accomplishments in the other three pillars.

Service refers to the contributions you make to your school and or community on a volunteer basis, without receiving any compensation. For your most significant service activities, be sure to explain why you choose to support certain organizations and why you chose specific roles. 

Showcase your leadership in your school and or community while working with or for others. Remember, stating that you are the captain of a team, president of a club, or supervisor of a shift does not prove that you are a leader. A leader makes things happen, sets a good example, and inspires others to give their personal best. Clearly state why you were selected to hold a leadership position and how you effectively lead. There are many successful leadership styles. Communicate your unique brand of leadership. 

Character is how you conduct yourself with high standards of honesty, reliability, and respect for others. Many attributes define good character, and they all reflect a personal commitment to ethical and compassionate interactions with others as well as how you treat yourself. Results are only part of the story.  How you achieved them is critically important to communicate.

Think about how many NHS applications your school counselor reviews each year. Not every student who completes an application is selected for the honor. So how do you make your essay stand out?  Here are five strategies:

1. Make it Personal and Individual  

Your application form provides the facts about the scope and range of your involvement and contributions to your communities. Be sure that you write your essay in a way that brings this data to life. A compelling essay enables the reader to feel a strong connection to you. Express your unique values, aspirations, and priorities. State the motivation behind your choices and the trade-offs you’ve made. Be honest about challenges and what you have learned through your mistakes. And be sure the tone of the essay sounds like you and nobody else. 

2. Share Your Stories

People love to hear and remember stories, not simply facts and figures. Express themes and points that you want to share by relaying stories that bring these concepts to life. Stories can be poignant, funny, suspenseful, or surprising. Any approach that makes a reader want to continue reading is a great one.

3. Be Humble and Bold

Many students find it hard to express their hard-earned accomplishments without sounding boastful. Proudly stating your achievements without sounding brash is possible and important. Clearly state your motivations, your challenges, your vulnerabilities, and your mistakes to mitigate any concerns.  

4. Follow Tried and True Essay Guidelines

Channel all the advice you’ve received over the years about how to write a great essay. Do you have a clear thesis around which you have organized your thoughts? Compelling topic sentences to hook your reader? Strong supporting sentences to back up your reasoning? Have you avoided clichés? Do you vary your sentence structure and word choice? Does the text flow and keep the reader engaged? Last, but not least, have you checked and double-checked your grammar, punctuation, and spelling?

5. Draft, Edit, Edit, Edit, Polish

Writing is an iterative process so give yourself the time necessary to land on the best approach for explaining why you are deserving of the NHS honor. There are many ways to tackle an essay. Try a few to determine which is the most effective. Then, when you determine the best approach and are satisfied with your latest draft, share it with someone whose opinion you value. 

Looking for someone to read over your essay? Check out Collegevine’s free essay help ! Our peer review system will help you get feedback from other students so that you can improve your NHS essay and college essays.

While there is not a single template for a strong essay, here is an example of an NHS essay written by an 11th-grade student who was accepted into NHS.

Success is not only about improving yourself, but also about improving life for others. While my GPA shows my commitment to academics, how I spend my time and conduct myself outside of school reveal my commitment to making the world a better place, consistent with the values of the National Honor Society. 

For the two years my grandfather lived in a nursing home, each weekend I took my dog EJ to visit him. I witnessed first-hand the healing power of animals as EJ lifted his and the other residents’ spirits. Because of this experience and because monkeys are my favorite animal, when I heard about Helping Hands (HH), the only organization in the world that raises capuchin monkeys to be live-in assistants to people with spinal cord injuries, I reached out to volunteer. 

Both in the summer and during the school year, I assist the trainers. Monkeys begin training when they are teenagers. It typically takes three to five years until they are ready to be placed with a person. My first job is to clean the cages of 60 monkeys. (Not my favorite responsibility.) I also prepare meals and construct and distribute dexterity “toys.” 

While not glamorous, my work is critical to the success of the initiative. The physical support the monkeys provide is unbelievable. They turn pages of books, scratch itches, pour water, and retrieve dropped items… Most importantly, I have seen the life-changing impact a monkey’s companionship has on a partner, including a college-age student confined to a wheelchair after a spinal cord injury from hockey. 

In the spring, summer, and fall I also volunteer at Gaining Ground (GG), a non-profit that grows organic produce to donate to food pantries, shelters, and meal programs. When I volunteered at a local food pantry, it struck me that recipients receive mostly canned and packaged food. I think it is important that people in need receive fresh fruits and vegetables, and I enjoy the physical work of weeding, harvesting, cleaning, and packing produce.

Soon after I began volunteering at GG, my rabbi gave a sermon about the working conditions of tomato farmers in Florida. (It reminded me of Grapes of Wrath, and I couldn’t believe inhumane practices continue.) Her sermon motivated me to support the Coalition of Immokalee Workers by distributing postcards urging Trader Joe’s and Stop & Shop to only buy tomatoes from farms that agree to fair wages and human rights. Both chains have now agreed, showing that a little effort by many people makes a difference.

Last, I believe a story is the best way to explain my “behind-the-scenes” leadership. At the annual nighttime football game, one of my soccer teammates (not someone I hang with) was drunk. When our principal came over to the bleachers, my teammate’s friends fled. Concerned that my teammate would fall and hurt herself, I brought her outside the stadium, called her parents, and waited with her until they came — without worrying about social retribution. Despite getting grounded, she thanked me for my help.

I would be honored to be recognized by NHS for my service, leadership, and character. Thank you for your consideration.

The time you invest in composing an effective NHS essay will help you when you’re ready to write your college essays! Essays are important components of applications to selective colleges. Getting into NHS is also an honor that may boost your application at some schools. Remember, you can estimate your chance for acceptance using Collegevine’s free chancing calculator . This tool will factor in your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and more to calculate your odds of admission at hundreds of schools across the country.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, personal statement help for national honor society.

Hi folks! I need to write a personal statement for my National Honor Society application. I'm not entirely sure what to include or how to make it unique. Could someone give me some advice on what aspects to focus on or examples of what has worked for others? Thanks in advance!

Hi there! Congratulations on your National Honor Society (NHS) nomination! Writing a personal statement is a great opportunity to showcase your strengths, achievements, and the qualities that make you a perfect fit for the NHS. When crafting your statement, consider the following aspects:

1. Core Values: The NHS values character, scholarship, leadership, and service. Make sure to highlight these aspects in your personal statement. Share specific examples of how you exemplify each trait and how these qualities have shaped you.

2. Leadership: Provide examples of your leadership experiences, whether it's through clubs, sports, or school organizations. Emphasize the impact of your leadership and how you've encouraged or inspired others.

3. Service: Showcase your commitment to community service. Discuss specific volunteer projects or initiatives you've been involved in, the results you've achieved, and how they have positively impacted others.

4. Academics: Your academic excellence is already reflected in your application, but don't be afraid to mention any specific achievements or challenges you've overcome in your academic journey. This could include prestigious awards, outstanding test scores, or overcoming obstacles that affected your academic performance.

5. Personal Story: A strong personal statement tells a story. Share something unique about yourself, your background, or your experiences that shaped who you are today. This will help the reviewers to connect with you on a deeper level.

6. Future Goals: Briefly mention how being a part of the NHS aligns with your future goals and aspirations. Explain how the society's values and resources will support your growth and help you make an even greater impact in your community or chosen field.

Remember to be genuine and honest throughout your statement. Best of luck with your application, and I hope these tips help you create a personal statement that truly stands out!

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Writing a National Honor Society Personal Statement

Table of Contents

A  national honor society personal statement  is an important document to submit when seeking membership in this prestigious organization. This document allows you to highlight your accomplishments and aspirations and share why you are interested in joining the National Honor Society.

With guidance from the right sources, you can create a statement that will stand out. This article discusses what makes an excellent personal statement and how to write one. We also provide some tips and examples to help you get started.

What Is the National Honor Society (NHS)?

The National Honor Society honors high school students who have achieved excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Membership is open to juniors and seniors at public and private schools across the country. More than one million students are members of the NHS. 

The society was founded in 1921 in America to recognize outstanding high school achievers. It encourages student involvement in community service. Today, NHS chapters promote five core values: Scholarship, Leadership, Service, Character, and Citizenship.

Importance of a National Honor Society Personal Statement

A personal statement is a brief and well-crafted essay about one’s life, experiences, and goals . It is often used for college applications or job applications. Personal statements serve as a way of providing a better understanding of who you are as a person. 

Your personal statement is an essential part of your application to the National Honor Society. Your statement tells the selection committee why you’re interested in joining the NHS. The statement shows how you’ve led and served and what you want to gain.

The personal statement is also your chance to stand out from the other applicants. It is crucial to take time to write a thoughtful, well-crafted statement that showcases your strengths and accomplishments.

Components of a National Honor Society Personal Statement

A personal statement for a national honor society should explain why you are worthy of membership. It should highlight your academic achievements, community service, and leadership experience.

A personal statement for a national honor society typically includes the following: 

• Show how you imbibe the National Honor Society four pillars of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.
• Personalize the statement.
• Share your story.
• Be humble and bold. 

How to Write a Personal Statement for the National Honors Society (NHS)

Your statement should reflect your academic and extracurricular achievements, as well as your interests and goals. It’s essential to be specific and personalize your statement to make it stand out.

Here are the steps to follow: 

• Plan your personal statement. 
• Start by brainstorming the key ideas of your personal statement.
• Highlight your academic achievements. 
• Discuss your leadership. 
• Show how you have been of service. 
• Highlight your character. 
• Show that you are a good citizen. 
• Edit your personal statement.

Tips for Writing a Strong Personal Statement

1. Make sure it is well written . Edit it multiple times so that there are no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. 

2. Be specific about your experiences and accomplishments. Don’t just say, “I am hardworking” – explain how you have demonstrated this characteristic in your past endeavors. 

3. Stay positive! Your personal statement should be an upbeat reflection on your life rather than a list of struggles and hardships endured. 

4. Keep it concise – 800 words maximum (not including the header/title). Brevity is key when writing any type of essay, but especially so in regard to personal statements.

What is the best way to conclude an NHS essay?

The following would make a solid National Honor Society essay conclusion:

• A lasting impression of high morals, 
• Restating the thesis, summarizing the main points.
• Leaving the readers with a thought-provoking question
• Persuading the selection committee that they are not only reading an achievements list but a statement from a determined & devoted person.
• Providing a call to action.

No matter what conclusion you choose, make sure it is well-written and reinforces the main points of your essay.

National Honor Society (NHS) Personal Statement Examples

I have always wanted to join  the National Honor Society, so  I have worked hard to achieve this goal. Since the beginning of high school, I have demonstrated hard work and competitiveness.  I’m sure I’ll be able to contribute to  the National Honor Society as an academically sound, trustworthy, and motivated student.

Through hard work, I have consistently maintained good grades and made stellar academic achievements while taking AP classes. When I don’t understand a concept, I never hesitate to seek clarification. When preparing for tests or exams, I leave no stone unturned. I am a work-hard, play-hard kind of person, and I know I will thrive once I am in the National Honor Society.

My academic success is due in part to my practice of going the extra mile when preparing. This practice of going the extra mile to achieve my academic goals is one of several proofs of my possession of initiative. I try to learn from both my mistakes and those of others. This proves that I am passionate about growing and improving myself.

As a high school student, I have volunteered for over 110 hours in both my school and my community. This cost me the time I could have spent on something else, but it was well worth it. At Davidson Community Center, I organized various community programs. This event taught me how to demonstrate leadership and delegation.

My abilities, values, and convictions all point to my desire to actively participate in improving my community and favorably influencing younger generations. Because of this prominent characteristic, I was nominated to be a teen mentor at my church’s young mentors program.  My leadership abilities make me a strong contender  for membership in the National Honor Society.

I appreciate the consideration for membership of the National Honor Society as a hardworking student. I have worked hard to maintain outstanding grades throughout my academic career and give back to my school.

The National Honor Society embodies the qualities that are important to me: scholarship, leadership, service, and character.  These principles are fundamental to both my intellectual and personal lives.  In everything I do – whether it is participating in extracurricular activities or volunteering at a local shelter – I strive to uphold these traits.

Joining NHS would be a privilege and honor that would motivate me to be an outstanding member of our school community and society. Being part of the NHS would allow me to continue developing as an individual while helping others, which is very important to me. The sense of camaraderie within NHS is also appealing as it provides opportunities for collaboration and support among members.

I feel privileged to be considered for the National Honor Society. This esteemed group upholds the highest ideals of leadership, service, and scholarship. I pledge to live up to these ideals and work diligently both inside and outside of the classroom.

I have always strived for excellence in my academic pursuits, and I firmly believe that the NHS will help me continue this trajectory. The fantastic faculty mentors at my school have helped me develop my leadership skills. NHS will provide me the opportunity to give back by helping others on campus and in the community. I eagerly anticipate working with like-minded peers who share my commitment to Scholarship, Leadership, and Service—the three cornerstones upon which NHS is built.

Joining the National Honor Society is a privilege. Since I heard of this prestigious society, I have worked diligently to be accepted. The NHS represents excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. These four pillars are integral to who I am as a person, which is why joining the NHS feels like such an accomplishment. 

Scholarship is the result of hard work both at home and out of the classroom. Serving others puts others above yourself, and leadership is the act of acting morally even when no one is watching. “Character” means having integrity at all times. To uphold these values proudly, I will maintain my grades while also becoming more involved on campus and serving the community whenever possible .

The National Honor Society is a respected organization that honors outstanding students’ academic excellence and exceptional service. It is important to have a strong personal statement if you want to be considered for membership.

Your  national honor society personal statement  should highlight your accomplishments and goals, as well as your commitment to community service. Your personal statement will aid you in differentiating yourself from the competitors and improve your prospects of being accepted into the National Honor Society.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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OpenSAFELY: Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents

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Background Children and adolescents in England were offered BNT162b2 as part of the national COVID-19 vaccine roll out from September 2021. We assessed the safety and effectiveness of first and second dose BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents in England.

Methods With the approval of NHS England, we conducted an observational study in the OpenSAFELY-TPP database, including a) adolescents aged 12-15 years, and b) children aged 5-11 years and comparing individuals receiving i) first vaccination with unvaccinated controls and ii) second vaccination to single-vaccinated controls. We matched vaccinated individuals with controls on age, sex, region, and other important characteristics. Outcomes were positive SARS-CoV-2 test (adolescents only); COVID-19 A&E attendance; COVID-19 hospitalisation; COVID-19 critical care admission; COVID-19 death, with non-COVID-19 death and fractures as negative control outcomes and A&E attendance, unplanned hospitalisation, pericarditis, and myocarditis as safety outcomes.

Results Amongst 820,926 previously unvaccinated adolescents, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) for positive SARS-CoV-2 test comparing vaccination with no vaccination was 0.74 (95% CI 0.72-0.75), although the 20-week risks were similar. The IRRs were 0.60 (0.37-0.97) for COVID-19 A&E attendance, 0.58 (0.38-0.89) for COVID-19 hospitalisation, 0.99 (0.93-1.06) for fractures, 0.89 (0.87-0.91) for A&E attendances and 0.88 (0.81-0.95) for unplanned hospitalisation. Amongst 441,858 adolescents who had received first vaccination IRRs comparing second dose with first dose only were 0.67 (0.65-0.69) for positive SARS-CoV-2 test, 1.00 (0.20-4.96) for COVID-19 A&E attendance, 0.60 (0.26-1.37) for COVID-19 hospitalisation, 0.94 (0.84-1.05) for fractures, 0.93 (0.89-0.98) for A&E attendance and 0.99 (0.86-1.13) for unplanned hospitalisation. Amongst 283,422 previously unvaccinated children and 132,462 children who had received a first vaccine dose, COVID-19-related outcomes were too rare to allow IRRs to be estimated precisely. A&E attendance and unplanned hospitalisation were slightly higher after first vaccination (IRRs versus no vaccination 1.05 (1.01-1.10) and 1.10 (0.95-1.26) respectively) but slightly lower after second vaccination (IRRs versus first dose 0.95 (0.86-1.05) and 0.78 (0.56-1.08) respectively). There were no COVID-19-related deaths in any group. Fewer than seven (exact number redacted) COVID-19-related critical care admissions occurred in the adolescent first dose vs unvaccinated cohort. Among both adolescents and children, myocarditis and pericarditis were documented only in the vaccinated groups, with rates of 27 and 10 cases/million after first and second doses respectively.

Conclusion BNT162b2 vaccination in adolescents reduced COVID-19 A&E attendance and hospitalisation, although these outcomes were rare. Protection against positive SARS-CoV-2 tests was transient.

Competing Interest Statement

BG has received research funding from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, the NHS National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the NIHR School of Primary Care Research, NHS England, the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, the Mohn-Westlake Foundation, NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Oxford and Thames Valley, the Wellcome Trust, the Good Thinking Foundation, Health Data Research UK, the Health Foundation, the World Health Organisation, UKRI MRC, Asthma UK, the British Lung Foundation, and the Longitudinal Health and Wellbeing strand of the National Core Studies programme; he is a Non-Executive Director at NHS Digital; he also receives personal income from speaking and writing for lay audiences on the misuse of science. BMK is also employed by NHS England working on medicines policy and clinical lead for primary care medicines data. IJD has received unrestricted research grants and holds shares in GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

Funding Statement

The OpenSAFELY Platform is supported by grants from the Wellcome Trust (222097/Z/20/Z); MRC (MR/V015757/1, MC_PC-20059, MR/W016729/1); NIHR (NIHR135559, COV-LT2-0073), and Health Data Research UK (HDRUK2021.000, 2021.0157). In addition, this research used data assets made available as part of the Data and Connectivity National Core Study, led by Health Data Research UK in partnership with the Office for National Statistics and funded by UK Research and Innovation (grant ref MC_PC_20058). BG has also received funding from: the Bennett Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Oxford and Thames Valley, the Mohn-Westlake Foundation; all Bennett Institute staff are supported by BG's grants on this work. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR, NHS England, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Funders had no role in the study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication.

Author Declarations

I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.

The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

This study was approved by the Health Research Authority (REC reference 20/LO/0651) and by the London School of Hygeine and Tropical Medicine Ethics Board (reference 21863).

I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals.

I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).

I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable.

Data Availability

All data were linked, stored and analysed securely using the OpenSAFELY platform, https://www.opensafely.org/ , as part of the NHS England OpenSAFELY COVID-19 service. Data include pseudonymised data such as coded diagnoses, medications and physiological parameters. No free text data was included. All code is shared openly for review and re-use under MIT open license [ https://github.com/opensafely/vaccine-effectiveness-in-kids ]. Detailed pseudonymised patient data is potentially re-identifiable and therefore not shared. Primary care records managed by the GP software provider, TPP were linked to ONS death data and the Index of Multiple Deprivation through OpenSAFELY.

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Election latest: Rishi Sunak laughs as GP heckles him; New poll on PM leaving D-Day commemorations early

The latest updates from the general election campaign, as Rishi Sunak's decision to leave D-Day commemorations early dominates headlines.

Friday 7 June 2024 19:05, UK

• General Election 2024

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Election news

• New poll reveals what public think about PM leaving D-Day events early
• 'The country is not stupid': Sunak laughs as GP heckles him
• Sunak apologises and admits it was a 'mistake'
• PM says 'it's important we don't politicise this'
• Farage claims this is Sunak's 'Gillian Duffy' moment
• Starmer says PM will 'have to answer for his own actions'
• Unite did not endorse Labour's election manifesto
• Electoral Dysfunction: What could be in the party manifestos?
• Live reporting by Brad Young

Expert analysis

• Jon Craig: Mordaunt set to go into battle for Sunak in TV debate
• Rob Powell: It beggars belief someone didn't sound the alarm about PM leaving D-Day events early
• Tamara Cohen: Labour can't believe their luck

Election essentials

• Battle For No 10: PM and Starmer taking part in Sky News special
• Have your say: Be in the audience for our election leaders event
• Campaign Heritage: Memorable moments from elections gone by
• Trackers: Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
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• Read more: Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | How to register to vote | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency is changing | Your essential guide to election lingo | Sky's election night plans

This feels like a day that we might well look back on as a defining moment in the election campaign.

And a photo that I suspect will come to haunt the prime minister.

David Cameron in a line up of world leaders remembering the fallen, while Rishi Sunak sat down for an election interview.

Campaigns can unravel because of a series of unfortunate events.

An opponent can carefully unpick policy flaws.

Or sometimes an unforced error can come to define an election. A lapse of judgement.

The prime minister has apologised for leaving D-Day early.

But you've got to ask the question: how did the people around Rishi Sunak miss this?

Today, one of his own advisers, Ian Acheson, has quit the Conservative Party - he said  it had been outsourced to a "bunch of mendacious, incompetent and disreputable clowns".

The prime minister himself says his diary was drawn up well in advance.

Unlike gaffs of elections past, this one was planned.

Our weeknight show  Politics Hub With Ali Fortescue  is live now on Sky News.

The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing you, the audience, into the corridors of power.

Watch in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.

Watch  Politics Hub  from 7pm every night during the election campaign on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on the  Sky News website  and  app  or on  YouTube .

Ali Fortescue is back tonight at 7pm with the Politics Hub.

Joining her tonight will be:

• Reform UK leader and candidate for parliament, Nigel Farage
• Former Brexit secretary, David Davis 
• Shadow secretary of state for international development, Lisa Nandy

On the panel giving their view on today's events will be Tom Hamilton, former head of research for the Labour Party, and journalist Mercy Muroki, who was also a member of the government's Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities.

A woman saying she is a GP is heckling the prime minister at a campaign event in Wiltshire.

"The NHS is disintegrating. I am one of 2,500 GPs in this country who are currently unemployed due to your policies.

"What are you going to do about that? 

"37,000 GPs will not vote Conservative because of the constructive dismissal of general practice that is currently occurring.

"You cannot employ lesser-qualified people instead of GPs. They cannot be replaced. The country is not stupid."

She says consultations are very complex, with most people over the age of 40 having at least six different diseases at once that are seen by GPs.

"They cannot be coped with by half-qualified staff."

Then, another member of the crowd fires back at her: "Most GPs spend more time on holiday than in the surgery love."

The prime minister laughs, along with a crowd holding vote Conservative campaign signs.

Mr Sunak says he is supporting GPs with investment in "digital telephony" and making it "easier for people to see other primary care practitioners" like pharmacists.

"That's where I respectfully disagree with you."

Sky News understands that Unite the Union, the country's biggest union and the Labour party's biggest donor, did not endorse Labour's manifesto due to concerns about fire and rehire and the banning of new oil and gas licences.

A party spokesperson said earlier that the manifesto had been finalised.

Senior figures and union officials met today to work out the final details, said to include promises on workers rights and recognising Palestinian statehood.

Sky News understands the pledges will include recognition of a Palestinian state before the end of a peace process.

Penny Mordaunt, Royal Navy reservist and briefly Britain's first female defence secretary, goes into battle for Rishi Sunak this evening in the row over his D-Day snub.

The Commons leader, a national treasure after her sword-wielding heroics at the King's coronation, is the Tories' standard bearer in the first election TV debate between seven political parties.

Ms Mordaunt, an MP in the naval city of Portsmouth for 14 years, has suddenly been thrust into the controversy over the prime minister leaving the D-Day commemorations in France early to record an election TV interview.

She is expected to come under sustained bombardment over Mr Sunak's D-Day snub from opponents including Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn and Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper.

But the most brutal D-Day onslaught on Ms Mordaunt is expected to come from Nigel Farage, newly installed as leader of Reform UK this week, who attended the commemorations and has denounced the PM as unpatriotic.

Speaking ahead of the debate, being staged by the BBC, Mr Farage declared: "He is completely disconnected from the centre of this country and he has proved to me that he basically is not a patriotic leader of the Conservative Party. I was there because I care."

Mr Farage also claimed Mr Sunak's blunder in bailing out of the international segment of the D-Day events was his "Gillian Duffy moment", a reference to Gordon Brown's damaging description of a voter in Rochdale in 2010 as a "bigoted woman".

Although there are seven politicians taking part in the debate, all eyes will be on Ms Mordaunt, who is making her first major public intervention in the general election campaign.

Last week it was reported that her allies claimed Downing Street was keeping her "in a box" during the campaign because the prime minister's inner circle see her as a threat, a claim denied by Tory officials.

Just hours before the debate the Daily Telegraph claimed Ms Mordaunt must choose to fight for herself or her party, in a debate which could resemble a firing squad for the Commons leader.

She is an accomplished performer, as her regular Thursday Commons questions sessions confirm, and besides digging Mr Sunak out of a D-Say hole, according to her allies she will want to use the debate as an audition for a post-election leadership challenge.

Another feature of the debate could be fiery clashes between Ms Mordaunt and Labour's combative deputy leader Ms Rayner, who is also an impressive Commons performer, particularly when standing in for Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions.

The prime minister has faced criticism for leaving the 80th anniversary D-Day commemorations early to record a TV interview that's due to go out next week. 

Rishi Sunak has since apologised - saying that "on reflection" leaving early "was a mistake", but also that it shouldn't be politicised.

Niall Paterson looks at how damaging this misstep is for Mr Sunak with Clare Pearsall, former Conservative special adviser at the Home Office, and Joe Twyman, the co-founder of the polling company Deltapoll.

Plus, our chief political correspondent Jon Craig tells us just how big of a political blunder it was.

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The Liberal Democrats are continuing to make political hay of Rishi Sunak's D-Day "mistake".

The party has called on the prime minister to donate the £5m the party has received from Frank Hester to a veteran's charity, tying together two points of attack on the Conservatives.

In March, it was reported that in 2019 Mr Hester said of Diane Abbott - the first black woman elected to Parliament - that she made him want to "hate all black women" and "should be shot".

Electoral Commission data released yesterday showed the Conservative Party accepted another £5m in January - before those reports were published.

"Rishi Sunak must personally ensure this money is donated instead to a veterans' charity as an apology for his absence yesterday," said veteran and Liberal Democrat defence spokesperson Richard Foord.

"The prime minister has badly let down veterans and our country. He disrespected his office and the United Kingdom."

Separately, Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds advised Tory candidates to "tell CCHQ you don't want tainted money" from Mr Hester and "provide the moral backbone for your party".

Labour's election manifesto has been finalised, a spokesperson says.

Sky News understands the pledges will included recognition of a Palestinian state before the end of a peace process.

"Today's meeting has endorsed Labour's manifesto," said the spokesperson.

The manifesto is otherwise understood to be cautious on new commitments, and to emphasise economic stability and national security.

It is based around the six key pledges Sir Keir has set out during the campaign.

These include economic growth, recruiting 6,500 more teachers and tackling NHS waiting lists and anti-social behaviour.

The manifesto is set to be unveiled next Thursday.

"On 4 July, the British people will have the chance to vote for change - to stop the chaos, turn the page and start to rebuild our country," said the Labour spokesperson.

Some 65% of Britons believe Rishi Sunak's decision to leave D-Day commemorations before they ended was unacceptable, a new poll finds.

This includes 68% of those who voted Conservative and 71% of those who voted Labour in 2019.

Just 8% of the 5,778 adults surveyed viewed his actions as completely acceptable, while 43% thought they were completely unacceptable.

Participants were asked whether they thought it was acceptable or unacceptable that Rishi Sunak left the commemorations in France before the international events had concluded in order to take part in an election interview.

While region and gender made little difference to the public's reaction, older people were the most critical.

Approximately 75% of people aged over the aged of 65 thought it was somewhat or completely unacceptable, compared to 49% of 18 to 24-year-olds.

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