Latest findings from the Ipsos MORI UK KnowledgePanel show that over two in five expect the general standard of care to get better, and the public’s top priority for the NHS is improving waiting times.
Thinktank says longer wait for treatment since Covid pandemic is main reason, in study of 11 countries.
During the pandemic, virtual triage and consultations have sped up treatments and reduced the number of unnecessary in-person interactions.
Stephen Colegrave investigates why Medscape indicates the UK has had so many more health worker deaths than elsewhere.
New data indicates the dental crisis shows no signs of slowing, with four in five people (80%) struggling to access timely care during the last COVID-19 lockdown.
It’s hard to imagine anything more transformative for the NHS than the coronavirus crisis. The health and social care system has been making enormous efforts to address the pandemic while the number of deaths continue to rise across the UK. Even now, it is safe to say that 2020 feels like a turning moment in the NHS and beyond.
There are many philosophies shaping healthcare services around the world, and this article glances at some prominent examples. This may help understand why different countries experience healthcare differently.
Before the National Health Service (NHS) came into being, Britain’s healthcare – and the health of its people – left much to be desired. Pre-Second World War, infectious diseases including diphtheria and tuberculosis were rife, and infant mortality rates were high.
Government must be honest about nurse numbers and invest in the profession, says RCN, as new report shows significant shortfall of nursing staff in key areas.
Around 26 million people in the UK have at least one long-term medical condition. This includes nearly 50% of people aged 65-74 and nearly two-thirds of those over 85. What’s more, the UK’s ageing population means these numbers will only increase in the coming years. In fact, experts predict that by 2030, around seven million older people will have at least one long-term illness or health problem. The ageing population and the increasing rates of long-term medical conditions have had a huge impact on the NHS.
The RCPCH has published State of Child Health 2020, the largest ever compilation of data on the health of babies, children and young people across all four UK nations. The report shows that for many measures of children’s health and wellbeing, progress has stalled, or is in reverse – something rarely seen in high income countries.
Public health has historically had a significant positive impact, improving the health and life course of the nation. As far back as 1848, the Public Health Act was instrumental in introducing sanitation, refuse systems and medical officers into local areas. In the last two centuries, we have seen major advances in medicine, hygiene, technology, planning, infrastructure, food, and many other areas that influence the public’s health. This has resulted in the average life expectancy in the UK for a female born between 2016 and 2018 of 82.9 years.
In 2018/19 the UK spent around £153bn on health, in 2019/20 prices. This is an increase of 2% compared to the previous year and is ten times more than was spent sixty years earlier, in 1958/59. On average health spending has increased by 3.6% a year over the history of the NHS as a result of the UK’s growing population, the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions, and the rising costs of delivering care.
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