NHS Constitution

Here's a picture of the prime minister signing the NHS constitution.

Speaking in Downing Street, the PM said there was not a family in Britain that did not call on the NHS “for cure, for care, for help, for advice, for mentoring” and that the Constitution launch marked a “great day” for the country.

Which country?

Previously Alan Johnson's office seemed a little confused as to the territorial extent of the NHS Constitution, did it apply to England or the whole of the UK?

However, moving on, this House of Lords Explanatory Note seems fairly unequivocal:

The Constitution is for the NHS in England only. However, on 3rd July 2008, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales committed to a high-level statement declaring the principles of the NHS across the UK. This was to reaffirm that the underlying principles of the NHS across the UK remain the same, even as the way the NHS provides care may vary between the four countries, reflecting their different needs and circumstances.