Is compassion possible in a market-led NHS?

The principle of compassionate care is increasingly seen as the core element of good nursing practice. However, recent media reports have focused on the "compassion deficit". We carried out a review of national and international evidence on core professional values, which showed that caring and compassion are inherent nursing values. While the development of these values is influenced by training and role modelling, the main influence is the organisation and culture in which nurses work. This article discusses the findings of the review in relation to the national debate around compassionate care within an NHS that is being fundamentally changed. We suggest any failure in compassion is more likely to be due to government health policy and NHS organisational culture than to any shortcomings of nurses or nursing practice.