The report by the Organisation for the Economic Cooperation and Development compared medical data and spending across European countries plus the United States, Mexico, Japan and South Korea
Britain came in second last of its bowel cancer survival league table, with only patients in the Czech Republic less likely to be alive five years after diagnosis. The survival rate in Britain was 51.6 per cent, compared with an OECD average of 57.4 per cent and 65.5 per cent in the US.
Britain also languishes near the bottom of the breast cancer league table, with a survival rate of 78.5 per cent. The OECD-wide average is 81.2 per cent.
Heart attack victims in Britain are also more likely to die after entering hospital than in most other developed nations.
Around 6.3 per cent of patients who have suffered a heart attack have passed away within 30 days of entering a British hospital – significantly higher than the 4.3 per cent average.
The figures also show that British life expectancy is much lower than our nearest neighbours. Men in this country can expect to live to 79 years and six months, against 81 years in France.
While the report’s authors identified some successes in British healthcare – we have among the best records in Europe for screening women for breast and cervical cancer – the survey indicates that Labour’s much-trumpeted NHS investment has failed to raise standards in key areas.
Many of the countries with comparable records on cancer and heart disease spend half as much money per person on health.
“Although survival rates for different types of cancer are improving in the UK, most other OECD countries achieve higher rates,” the report stated.
Last night ministers drew attention to the figures in the report showing that survival cancer rates were improving. Andy Burnham, the Health Secretary, said that “enormous progress” had been made in the NHS.
The data analysed in the report covered the years 2002-07.
The report also found that United States ranks near the bottom in life expectancy among wealthy nations despite spending more than double per person on healthcare than the OECD average.
Source Daily Telegraph