Author: Zosia Kmietowicz

Date: 20/01/2010

Organisation: BMJ

Extract:
An analysis of the performance of the national health services in the four countries of the United Kingdom has found that England spends less and has fewer staff than the others but delivers more treatment more quickly.

The researchers, from the health charity the Nuffield Trust, say that "troubling differences" exist between the countries in activity, staffing levels, crude productivity, and waiting times. Their study asked whether taxpayers are getting value for money for health services and whether the three devolved health services need to be more accountable.

For the study the researchers examined the performance of the health services in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland across three time points: 1996-7, 2002-3, and 2006-7.

They found that in 2006-7 Scotland had the highest levels of poor health, the highest rates of expenditure, and the highest numbers of hospital doctors, GPs, and nurses per head of population but the lowest …

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