The report reveals that the NHS has fewer beds, scanners and doctors than welfare providers in different international locations
Our healthcare system is unable to provide world-class care because it has fewer beds, scanners and doctors than many developed international locations, the report immediately warns.
In addition, the UK spends less per person on healthcare than usual and performs significantly worse on key outcomes such as life expectancy and most cancers.
Researchers at The King’s Fund said their assessment found the UK was “by no means where we should be” on these measures.
They added that the NHS “a beloved British institution” had “sadly seen better days”.
The findings come ahead of the NHS’s seventy-fifth anniversary on July 5, when welfare leaders plan to announce its achievements.
Our healthcare system is unable to provide world-class care because it has fewer beds, scanners and doctors than many developed international locations, the report immediately warns. Photo of a hospital ward
The examination examines healthcare in 19 international locations – the unique 15 member states of the European Union, excluding Luxembourg, as well as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
It found that the NHS provides good safeguards against the “potentially catastrophic costs of ill-health” and is probably one of the most efficiently run.
But it has “surprisingly few key clinical staff”, with fewer doctors and nurses and more reliance on internationally educated staff. The UK has just three doctors per 1,000 people, compared to 6.3 in Greece.
The UK also ranks last out of 19 international locations for the range of CT and MRI scanners available per person.
Meanwhile, the country has 2.5 beds per 1,000 residents, compared to an average of 3.2, placing it in second place. Germany has 7.9 beds per 1,000.
Of the international locations assessed, the UK has one of the lowest ranges of life expectancy for women and men, with a significant drop due to the Covid pandemic.
In addition, Britain has more deaths from treatable diseases resembling coronary heart attack and stroke than most others, and survival charges for many critical cancers are lower than average, similar to most breast and lung cancers.
A Department of Health spokesman said £14.1 billion was being invested to improve providers and reduce the waiting list.
