The Department of Health, in association with the British Institute of Human Rights, has published a framework to help NHS bodies develop a "human-rights based approach" to their work: see Human rights in healthcare - a framework for local action. The Audit Commission has carried out a survey of action taken by public bodies, including NHS bodies, to ensure that their policies and procedures comply with the Human Rights Act and their report provides helpful advice in this area. The Department for Constitutional Affairs publishes guidance and training materials. These include:

• Making sense of human rights: a short introduction
• Human rights: human lives: a handbook for public authorities
• A guide to the Human Rights Act 1998: third edition

Another source of advice can be found in the Legal Action Group’s Human Rights Act Toolkit.

The Human Rights Act Information Service provides information on relevant human rights case-law, but cannot provide legal advice on how NHS bodies should act in particular circumstances. However, we can if you wish refer you to a human rights specialist in the panel firm which normally handles your clinical negligence claims (the cost of the advice to be borne by your organisation).