Healthcare outcomes and quality in the NHS: how do we compare and how might the NHS improve?
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Majeed, FA
Allwood, Dominique
Foley, Kim
Bindman, Andrew
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Health outcomes in the United Kingdom have improved substantially since the NHS was established in 1948.1 For example, average life expectancy has increased by around 12 years from 68 to 80 years; and infant mortality has fallen nearly 90%, from 34/1000 live births to less than 4/1000.2 The NHS performs well in many international comparisons on measures such as efficiency, equity, and access.3 Despite these achievements, however, problems with health outcomes remain.34 Moreover, other European countries have also improved their health outcomes in recent decades, often at a faster rate than the UK. Consequently, the UK now lags behind many other European countries in key health outcomes in areas such as child health and cancer survival. Here, we review the quality of care and health outcomes in the NHS, focusing on areas that are important to patients, policy makers, and clinicians4 and for which there are comparative international data.
Date Issued
2018-07-13
Date Acceptance
2018-07-11
Citation
BMJ, 2018, 362
ISSN
0959-8138
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
Journal / Book Title
BMJ
Volume
362
Copyright Statement
© 2018 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
Sponsor
National Institute for Health Research
Grant Number
N/A
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Medicine, General & Internal
General & Internal Medicine
CANCER SURVIVAL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
k3036
Date Publish Online
2018-07-13