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" Health ministers are to propose a written constitution to mark the 60th anniversary of the NHS next year, it has emerged.  Andy Burnham, the health minister responsible for NHS reform, told the Guardian he plans to put the idea forward to prime minister Tony Blair and chancellor Gordon Brown.  Formalising the health service&amp;#039;s core values in a written format would reassure patients and NHS workers that key values would be kept throughout restructuring drives.  Mr Burnham said it is vital to have the public commitment of Britain&amp;#039;s health service explained in detail.  &amp;quot;We have to have the N in NHS spelled out in a binding set of principles,&amp;quot; he told the newspaper.  Proposals for the NHS constitution include setting out ten core principles, such as upholding values on quality, non-discrimination and transparency.  &amp;quot;The NHS will be 60 years old on July 1st next year. I think that is the right point to settle a new consensus around the NHS as the right model for Britain&amp;#039;s healthcare needs,&amp;quot; Mr Burnham added.  Laying down a framework for public health service providers in December last year, NHS chief executive David Nicholson called for a guarantee that services will stay free at the point of use for a minimum of ten years. \u00A9 Adfero Ltd "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/news/a14868/nhs-needs-a-written-constitution/>