A recent independent analysis, produced for the BBC, found that the NHS has fallen behind other countries with regard to treating “common, life-threatening illnesses”. The report states that the UK is performing ‘below-average’ in the prevention of death from heart attacks, strokes and cancer. The NHS was described as a “perfectly ordinary” service produced for a “middling level of cost”.
The report states that the NHS performs worse than average in the following common causes of death:
- Breast Cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Lung disease
- Respiratory infections including pneumonia
- Stroke
- Heart attacks
It also noted “consistently higher rates of death for babies at birth or just after and in the first month of life”.
However, the NHS is performing better than other nations with regard to the treatment of kidney disease and preventing amputations for diabetic patients.
It was also noted that the NHS receives less funding than the other 18 nations’ services that were also involved in the study. Therefore “it seemed plausible that poor performance was to some extent a consequence of relatively low levels of funding that meant there was a fewer resources.”
A spokeswoman for the Department for Health and Social Care said “survival rates were improving for a number of conditions”. She said that extra funding had recently been announced and that the budget for the NHS “will grow by £20bn a year in England by 2023” and that this would help to make even more progress and to “secure its future”.
Moosa-Duke Solicitors have concerns that the “below-average” performance of the NHS could be detrimental to a number of patients, which could lead to severe consequences. We are however hopeful that the increase in budget, which is due to be provided to the NHS, may improve its performance and will allow patients to receive the standard of care they are entitled to expect.
Moosa-Duke Solicitors are specialists in clinical negligence law. If you believe that you or a family member have been a victim of negligence, due to private or NHS treatment, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0116 254 7456, so that we can discuss your concerns.
