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13
Nov 2019
UK lags behind other rich nations on health and care
A study has shown that the UK has fewer doctors and nurses and poorer access to elderly long-term care than other rich nations.
The Organisation for Economic Growth and Development (OECD) review also worked that many people in the UK were living unhealthy lives with high rates of obesity and alcohol consumption.
However, it did praise the “strong access” to health care through the NHS, adding that there were low levels of inequality compared to other countries.
The review, which is undertaken every two years, looks into the performance and characteristics of the richest nations across all continents, looking at the number of doctors and nurses per 1,000 people. It showed that the UK has 7.8 nurses and 2.8 doctors per 1,000 people, which compares with OECD averages of 8.8 and 3.5 respectively.
Adults within the UK consume higher rates of alcohol compared with other nations and up to two-thirds of adults are either overweight or obese, both were higher than the OECD average.
The review also showed that drug abuse was also a concern, particularly heroin use, with researchers noting that there had been an increase in opioid-related fatalities.
It also warned that increases in life expectancy had started to slow down in recent years.
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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of 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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