Report warns NHS close to bottom of world healthcare league table

A report by the Civitas think-tank has warned that the UK’s healthcare system currently ranks second worst out of 19 similar countries, with only the United States faring worse overall due to spending more on health per capita, had the worst life expectancy and did not feature in all tables due to a lack of data.

 

With NHS waiting lists now standing at a record 6.2 million, the report found that Britain is ‘bumping along the bottom’ of the league table for a range of major health outcomes.

 

For the report, data was analysed from 2019 on 16 measures, including survival rates and life expectancy for cancer, heart attacks and strokes.

 

Researchers say 6,500 lives a year could be saved in the UK if performance on preventable diseases matched the average rate of other nations.

 

The UK was ranked 17^th out of 19 countries for life expectancy, worst for heart attack and stroke survival, and 16^th out of 18 for five types of cancer, for example stomach cancer five-year survival rates were 17^th out of 19 at 20.7 per cent.

 

Study author Tim Knox of the think-tank said “If what matters most to patients is the outcome of the treatment they will receive, then these findings should be of concern to all.  Our uncritical worship of the NHS means that it is difficult to ask questions of our health service and how it ranks against those of other nations.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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