6 NHS Core Values for the UK Medicine Interviews & NHS Interviews
Dr Akash Gandhi·NHS GP and Medicine Admissions ExpertPublished 4 April 2023Updated 25 June 2026 10 min read
The NHS (National Health Service) has helped millions of people since it was founded in 1948. Its six core values are set out in the NHS Constitution for England, first published in 2009 and last updated in 2023. They describe how everyone working in the NHS should behave, and they are one of the most popular topics in medicine and NHS value-based interviews.
It is essential to know these six core values before any NHS or healthcare interview, and especially before a UK medicine or dentistry interview. A quick note on scope: these are the values for the NHS in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own health services with their own value frameworks, although the underlying themes are very similar.
Think about how you can use them both in terms of your past experiences and also about applying them to your own situations, both in the present and in the future.
In this article, we will go through each of the 6 NHS core values, before examining how you can demonstrate your own similar NHS values in your medical school or NHS interview questions.
What Are the 6 NHS Core Values?
These six values come from the NHS Constitution for England, which was first published in 2009 and last updated in 2023. By law the Constitution is reviewed at least once every ten years. A public consultation as part of that ten-year review closed in June 2024, but as of 2026 the six core values remain unchanged and the wording below is current. A proposal to add an 'environmental responsibilities' value was raised during the consultation, so this is worth a brief mention if an interviewer asks whether the values might change.
The NHS has six core values that guide its mission and culture:
Respect and dignity
Commitment to quality of care
Compassion
Improving lives
Working together for patients
Everyone counts
Each of the core NHS values will now be explored in turn:
The 6 NHS Core Values Explained
1. Respect and Dignity - NHS Core Values
Respect and dignity means valuing every person, whether a patient, a family member, a carer or a member of staff, as an individual. The NHS Constitution puts it as respecting people's aspirations and commitments in life, and seeking to understand their priorities, needs, abilities and limits. In practice it means treating everyone with courtesy regardless of their age, sex, ethnicity, faith, disability or background. Practical example: drawing the curtain and asking permission before a physical examination, and explaining what you are about to do, protects a patient's dignity.
In an interview setting, demonstrating respect, professionalism and dignity is essential - both through your own experiences in business and personal life. It is important to respect their aspirations and commitments, which may impact the care they want to receive.
This can be demonstrated through using language that is polite in your interview answers, always maintaining eye contact, and listening well to questions and feedback. It is important to be able to provide concrete examples of how you have shown this to patients and colleagues in past healthcare settings - or even from your own work experience.
In the context of the Charlie Gard Case, this value underscores the need to maintain a patient's dignity even in the most challenging situations. This is further emphasised in providing confidentiality in health care settings - one of the core tenets of becoming a doctor and part of the NHS constitution.
Demonstrating your understanding of this core value and how you have implemented it in the past can give you an edge in your medical school interview - even if the question does not directly ask for this to be mentioned.
2. Commitment to Quality of Care - NHS Core Values
Commitment to quality of care means earning patients' trust by getting the basics of care right every time: safety, clinical effectiveness and a good patient experience. The NHS Constitution links this to welcoming feedback, learning from mistakes and acting to improve. Practical example: a ward team running a hand-hygiene audit and changing its routine to cut infection rates shows this value in action. In an interview, you can show it by describing training you have done and how you stay up to date with current evidence.
Commitment to this is a vital NHS core value, as seen in the Shropshire Maternity Scandal, where a lack of quality care led to preventable harm.
It is also important to demonstrate how you have positively contributed to the improvement of care in prior roles. Showing that you have an understanding of the importance of quality care and have experience in providing it is key to demonstrating your commitment to the NHS.
Furthermore, it is beneficial to highlight any steps you have taken to ensure that the care you are providing is consistently high, such as attending conferences or seminars to stay up-to-date with the latest innovations in the healthcare field.
Compassion means responding with humanity and kindness to each person's pain, distress, anxiety or need. The NHS Constitution stresses that compassion is central to the care provided, and it is closely tied to communication: finding the time to listen and to comfort. Practical example: sitting down at eye level with an anxious patient and acknowledging how frightening a diagnosis feels, rather than rushing on, is compassion in action. In an interview, give a concrete example of when you showed empathy.
During an interview, it is important to be able to provide examples of how you have demonstrated compassion to patients in your previous roles.
It is also helpful to talk about any training or education you have received in communication skills or patient-centred care. Demonstrating a strong understanding of the importance of compassion in healthcare shows that you are committed to providing excellent care and puts you in a great position to succeed in the role.
Improving lives means striving to improve health, wellbeing and people's experiences of the NHS. The NHS Constitution frames this around excellence, professionalism and innovation, including a focus on prevention and population health, not just treating illness. Practical example: an NHS smoking-cessation or weight-management service that helps people stay well, rather than waiting until they are ill, embodies this value. In an interview, draw on volunteering, outreach or health-promotion experiences to show it.
From patient education and outreach programmes to volunteering in community health initiatives and taking part in research to improve healthcare outcomes, these are all examples of how you have gone the extra mile to make a lasting impact on the lives of those you have had the privilege of caring for.
Showing a commitment to this core value of the NHS is a sure way to stand out from the crowd and impress during an NHS interview.
5. Working together for patients - NHS Core Values
Working together for patients is the first value listed in the NHS Constitution, summed up by the phrase 'patients come first in everything we do'. It is about collaboration across professions, teams and organisations, including partners outside the NHS such as social care, and putting the needs of patients and communities before organisational boundaries. Practical example: a multidisciplinary team meeting where doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and social workers plan a patient's safe discharge together shows this value. In an interview, give a clear example of effective teamwork.
Collaboration is crucial in healthcare, as demonstrated in the Archie Battersbee Case, where teamwork played a significant role in managing a complex situation.
In an interview, you can demonstrate your commitment to this value by providing examples of how you have worked effectively with colleagues in past roles. You can also mention any training or education you have received in teamwork or conflict resolution.
A very common point of confusion, and a frequent interview trap, is mixing up the six NHS core values with the '6 Cs'. They are not the same thing. The six core values come from the NHS Constitution and apply to everyone working in the NHS. The 6 Cs were introduced in 2012 in the nursing strategy 'Compassion in Practice' and were developed primarily for nursing, midwifery and care staff.
The 6 Cs are: care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment. You will notice that compassion and commitment appear on both lists, which is exactly why candidates get them muddled. In my experience as a GP, an interviewer is genuinely impressed when a candidate can say, accurately, that the six core values sit in the NHS Constitution and apply to all staff, whereas the 6 Cs are a nursing and care framework. If you are asked about the 'NHS values', default to the six Constitution values unless the question clearly refers to nursing.
There are also two related ideas worth not confusing with the values. The NHS Constitution sets out seven guiding principles (for example, that the NHS is comprehensive and available to all, and access is based on clinical need, not ability to pay). And people sometimes refer to the founding ambitions of the 1948 NHS. Keep values, principles and the 6 Cs separate in your answers and you will sound far more credible than most applicants.
Everyone counts means maximising the NHS's resources for the benefit of the whole community and making sure nobody is excluded, discriminated against or left behind. It is about fairness, equity and good stewardship of finite resources, recognising that money and staff spent in one area cannot be spent elsewhere. Practical example: providing an interpreter, or making a clinic accessible for a patient with a disability, ensures that person is not left behind. In an interview, show awareness of health inequalities and how care can be tailored to individual needs.
In an interview, you can demonstrate your dedication to this value by giving examples of how you have tailored care or support to meet the individual needs of patients or colleagues in past roles. You can also mention any training or education you have received in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
They guide healthcare professionals in providing the best care possible to patients and communities. The core values emphasise the importance of treating patients and colleagues with respect and dignity, providing high-quality care, demonstrating compassion, improving lives, working together for patients, and recognising the unique needs of each individual.
By understanding and demonstrating these values in interviews, you can showcase your commitment to providing excellent care and increase your chances of success in securing a place to study at medical school.
How to Show the NHS Values in Your Medicine Interview Answers
When preparing for your medical school interview, it is essential to not only understand the NHS core values but also be able to showcase your commitment to these values through concrete examples. Use anecdotes from your past experiences in healthcare, volunteering, or even personal life to demonstrate how you have embodied these values.
Additionally, discuss your plans for the future and how you aim to uphold these values as a medical professional. Ensure that you provide a well-rounded view of your understanding of the values and their importance in providing excellent care to patients.
Examples of Demonstrating the NHS Core Values in Healthcare Settings
Examples of demonstrating NHS trust values
In healthcare settings, the NHS core values play a crucial role in guiding medical professionals' behaviour and decision-making. For example, you can demonstrate respect and dignity by being attentive to patients' preferences and needs, ensuring that their privacy is maintained, and treating them with kindness.
To showcase compassion, you could discuss a time when you provided emotional support to a patient or their family during a difficult situation. When explaining your commitment to providing good care, mention any steps you have taken to further your education or training, as well as specific instances when you have contributed to improving patient outcomes. In all cases, provide tangible examples to illustrate your dedication to these values.
Ultimate Package
Choose your Ultimate Package
Rated 5.0 from 550+ reviews. 1-1 mentoring from doctors across UCAT, personal statement and interviews.
How to Prepare for NHS Value-Based Interview Questions
To prepare for NHS value-based interview questions, start by thoroughly researching the core values and understanding their importance in healthcare settings. Next, reflect on your past experiences and identify examples that demonstrate your commitment to these values.
Practice answering potential questions by explaining the situation, your actions, and the impact of your actions on the patient, colleagues, or the healthcare setting. Familiarise yourself with common interview questions related to the NHS core values and rehearse your responses.
Finally, be prepared to discuss any relevant training, education, or personal growth initiatives that have shaped your understanding and commitment to these values. This preparation will help you feel confident and articulate during your medical school interview, increasing your chances of success.
NHS Core Values Interview Answers: a Worked Example
Strong value-based answers use a simple structure: name the value, give a real example, and reflect on what it taught you. A useful framework is STARR (Situation, Task, Action, Result, Reflection), which keeps you concrete rather than vague.
Take the question 'Tell me about a time you showed compassion.' A weak answer simply asserts 'I am a compassionate person'. A strong answer might be: 'During my care-home work experience, a resident with dementia became distressed because she could not find her late husband. Rather than correct her, I sat with her, held her hand and talked about him until she felt calmer (Situation and Action). She settled and a carer thanked me (Result). It taught me that compassion is sometimes about presence and listening, not fixing the problem (Reflection).' Notice how the value is shown, not claimed.
Prepare at least one such story for each of the six values. Drawing examples from work experience, volunteering, part-time jobs or team activities will let you adapt to almost any value-based question you are given.
How would you demonstrate respect and dignity to a patient in a healthcare setting?
How have you contributed to improving the care received by patients in previous roles?
How have you shown empathy and kindness to patients in previous roles?
What have you done to contribute to improving the lives of patients?
Tell me about a time that you have shown effective teamwork?
How have you developed communication skills, patient-centred care, teamwork, or conflict resolution?
How would you stay up-to-date with the latest research and best practices in healthcare?
(Hard) What is the importance of quality improvement projects?
Top Tips for NHS Core Values Interview Questions and Answers
Research the NHS core values so that you understand what they mean and how they are applied in healthcare settings.
Prepare examples of how you have demonstrated respect, dignity, compassion, and care quality in previous healthcare roles.
Highlight any training or education you have received in communication skills, patient-centred care, teamwork, or conflict resolution.
Provide examples of how you have contributed to make people's lives better or communities through patient education or outreach programs, volunteering, or research studies.
Show your commitment to the value of everyone counts by highlighting any training or education you have received in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Practice your answers to potential questions about the NHS core values before the interview.
Be prepared to answer questions about how you prioritise the quality of care in a healthcare setting.
Make sure to use polite language and maintain eye contact during the interview.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the six NHS core values, working together for patients, respect and dignity, commitment to quality of care, compassion, improving lives, and everyone counts, sit at the heart of the NHS Constitution for England and are a frequent focus in medicine, dentistry and NHS value-based interviews. Learn the values, understand what each one means in practice, and prepare a real example for each. Doing so lets you answer value-based questions with confidence and shows you understand the organisation you hope to join.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What are the 6 NHS core values?
The six core values of the NHS in England are: working together for patients, respect and dignity, commitment to quality of care, compassion, improving lives, and everyone counts. They are set out in the NHS Constitution and describe how everyone working in the NHS is expected to behave towards patients, families and colleagues.
What are the NHS core values in order?
In the NHS Constitution for England the values are listed in this order: (1) working together for patients, (2) respect and dignity, (3) commitment to quality of care, (4) compassion, (5) improving lives, and (6) everyone counts. There is no ranking implied; all six carry equal weight. Many guides quote them in a different order, which is fine for an interview.
What are the 7 core values of the NHS?
There are six core values, not seven. The confusion usually comes from the NHS Constitution also setting out seven guiding principles, which are separate from the values. If an interviewer or a search asks for 'the 7 core values of the NHS', the safest answer is to clarify that there are six values and seven principles, then list the six values.
Are there 5 NHS core values?
No, there are six NHS core values, not five. People sometimes miscount because compassion and commitment overlap with the nursing 6 Cs, or because they merge two values together. The correct list is: working together for patients, respect and dignity, commitment to quality of care, compassion, improving lives, and everyone counts.
Why are the NHS core values important?
The NHS core values matter because they set the standard for how staff treat patients and each other, and they underpin safe, fair, high-quality care. They guide everyday decisions and are referenced in recruitment, appraisal and value-based interviews. For applicants, understanding the values shows insight into the culture and responsibilities of working in the NHS.
What is the difference between the NHS core values and the 6 Cs of nursing?
The six NHS core values come from the NHS Constitution and apply to all NHS staff. The 6 Cs (care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment) were introduced in 2012 in the nursing strategy 'Compassion in Practice' and were developed mainly for nursing and care staff. Compassion and commitment appear on both lists, so candidates often confuse them; the key is that the values are Constitution-wide while the 6 Cs are a nursing framework.
What are the 6 Cs of the NHS?
The 6 Cs are care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment. They were launched in 2012 as part of the 'Compassion in Practice' strategy for nursing, midwifery and care staff. They are not the same as the six core values of the NHS Constitution, although both share compassion and commitment, and are sometimes used together in interviews.
Are the NHS core values the same across the whole UK?
The six core values belong to the NHS Constitution for England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own health services with their own values and frameworks, though the themes (compassion, dignity, quality and working together) are very similar. For a UK medicine or dentistry interview, learn the six England values but be aware they are England-specific if asked.
Have the NHS core values changed in 2025 or 2026?
No. As of 2026 the six core values are unchanged. The NHS Constitution is reviewed at least every ten years, and a public consultation on the ten-year review closed in June 2024. A proposal to add an 'environmental responsibilities' value was discussed, but the six values still stand and no updated Constitution has yet been published. Quoting this shows interviewers you are genuinely current.
Where do the NHS core values come from?
The six core values are set out in the NHS Constitution for England, which was first published in 2009 following Lord Darzi's review and last updated in 2023. The Constitution brings together the principles, values, rights and pledges that define the NHS. By law it must be reviewed at least once every ten years with input from the public, patients and staff.
How do I show the NHS core values in a medicine interview?
Show, do not tell. Prepare a concrete example for each value drawn from work experience, volunteering or teamwork, and use a structure such as STARR (Situation, Task, Action, Result, Reflection). Name the value, describe what you actually did, and reflect on what you learned. Demonstrating respect, compassion and good listening in the interview room itself also reinforces your answers.
What are common NHS value-based interview questions?
Common questions include: 'Tell me about a time you showed compassion'; 'How would you treat a patient with respect and dignity?'; 'Give an example of effective teamwork'; 'How have you helped improve someone's life or wellbeing?'; and 'Can you give an example of how you have demonstrated our values?' Each targets one or more of the six core values, so prepare a story for each value in advance.
How should I structure an NHS values interview answer?
Use a reflective structure such as STARR: Situation, Task, Action, Result and Reflection. State the value, set the scene briefly, explain what you personally did, give the outcome, and finish with what you learned. This keeps answers specific and self-aware rather than generic, which is exactly what value-based interviews are designed to test.
What does 'everyone counts' mean as an NHS value?
'Everyone counts' means using NHS resources for the benefit of the whole community and making sure nobody is excluded, discriminated against or left behind. It is about fairness, equity and responsible use of limited resources. In an interview, you can link it to tackling health inequalities, providing interpreters or accessible care, and tailoring support to individual patients' needs.
Why do you want to work for the NHS?
A strong answer ties your motivation to the values. For example: 'The NHS provides high-quality care to everyone based on need, not the ability to pay, and its core values of compassion, respect and dignity, and working together for patients match how I want to practise. I want to contribute to an organisation built on equity, teamwork and continuous improvement.' Back this with a brief personal example.
Where can I find the NHS values PDF or official wording?
The official wording is in the NHS Constitution for England on GOV.UK, with a plain-English summary on the NHS Health Careers website. Both give the exact definition of each value. Using the official phrasing (for example, 'patients come first in everything we do' for working together for patients) makes your interview answers more accurate and credible.
Ultimate Package students from our 2025/26 cycle, with their UCAT scores and offers, who trained with us for the UCAT, personal statements and interviews.
Ultimate Package
S
Sophie
Medicine, King's College London
2025 UCAT2,590 / 2,700
“Harry got my UCAT up to 2,590, working through the sections I kept dropping marks on week by week. Gemma then ran my interview practice so the MMI stations didn't catch me out, and Dr Akash mentored me the whole way through. I'm off to King's for Medicine.”
Ultimate Package
D
Daniel
Medicine, University College London
Medicine offers4 offers
“The interview prep was the part that actually moved the needle. Proper mock MMIs, not just lists of questions, and feedback that was honest about what I was getting wrong. I ended up with four offers and firmed UCL.”
Ultimate Package
A
Aisha
Dentistry, University of Birmingham
Dentistry offers4 offers
“The Ultimate Package kept me organised from UCAT through to interviews. They knew what dental schools actually ask and tightened up my personal statement. Four offers in the end, and I'm going to Birmingham.”
Ultimate Package
C
Charlotte
Veterinary Medicine, Royal Veterinary College
Vet offers4 offers
“Vet applications come down to the written SAQs as much as the interview. Dr Rebecca went through my SAQs line by line, sharpened my answers and prepped me for the panels. I came away with four offers and chose the RVC.”
