International comparisons suggest the UK faces a 'mountain to climb' on improving care quality

Preventable hospital admissions, lower cancer survival rates and higher mortality rates from heart attacks and strokes are four key areas where UK health services are underperforming, according to a report published by the Nuffield Trust and Health Foundation.

Assessing the UK’s performance on nine key health system indicators, the Trust found the UK performing well on five areas of performance: these were cancer screening, reducing heart attacks, flu vaccination and antibiotic prescribing rates.

However, those areas in which the UK is failing to perform clearly point the finger in the direction of the care sector.

NHS Confederation chief executive Rob Webster said: “The report shows the UK has improved on almost every measure and is testament to the hard work being done by health and care staff across the NHS.

“It also highlights areas where we can and must do better – not least around survival rates for common cancers. This may be a problem with late presentation and lifestyle factors – as shown in many director of public health reports across the UK.”

Key findings from the report ‘International comparisons of healthcare quality’, show the UK to be lagging behind other developed countries on survival rates for common cancers, significantly in breast cancer and cervical and bowel cancers.

The UK’s high performance on flu vaccination rates, but poor performance on avoiding preventable hospital admissions, such as for chronic respiratory conditions, suggest a strong primary care system that is being let down by related services.

Mr Webster added: “To address these big challenges our members will need to work closely with partners in local government and the voluntary sector to develop a new relationship with the public. At the same time we will need to transform how we provide care so that the modern health service meets 21st century health needs.

“We can climb the mountain but only if we do it together and if local government has the resources to support the public's health.”