Dr Jean-Pierre LaakeTragically up to 500 people a week are currently dying unnecessarily because of delays in NHS care. These have got progressively worse over the last decade, coinciding with a widening chasm between NHS funding per person versus comparable countries. š§µ
Around 2010 the NHS was one of the best performing healthcare systems in the world & one of the most cost effective according to The Commonwealth Fund. Germany spent 20-30% more per person on health than the NHS (& the US over double) & couldn't match the UK.
Life expectancy has been increasing in the UK & comparable countries for decades. As well as more people, we have better treatments & more people living longer with more medical conditions. So it costs more today to provide the same standard of care per person compared to 2010.
But from 2010-19 the gap in average spending per person on health between the NHS & comparable EU countries widened to 21% & the gap widened to 39% versus Germany! The UK now has even less capacity per person - beds, nurses, doctors. We need much more!
The BMA, "It is just not true that the cost of resolving this mess cannot be afforded by this country. This is a political choice and patients are dying unnecessarily because of that choice." Thanks to Prof Philip Banfield, speaking truth to power š.
Full statement from Prof Philip Banfield, Chair of the BMA Council regarding the NHS crisis at the link below.
If you want to see for yourself the gradual, progressive decline in the performance of the NHS over the last decade these charts (link below) from @jburnmurdoch tell the story well. The most tragic thing about current events is they could & should have been prevented.
š¦ site: https://twitter.com/jburnmurdoch/status/1606223967903260673
