NHS Confederation Responds To Findings Of The Commonwealth Fund Survey

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 06 Nov 2009 - 1:00 PST

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A survey by US think tank the Commonwealth Fund has rated the NHS top in a number of key areas comparative to other international health systems. Nigel Edwards comments on its findings

The survey of 10,000 primary care physicians in 11 countries shows the NHS leading on reduced waiting times, using financial incentives to drive quality improvements and using comparative systems to measure clinical outcomes.

Commenting on the annual survey, NHS Confederation director of policy Nigel Edwards said:

"At a time when many NHS services are moving in to community and primary care settings to create a more efficient health system, it is encouraging to see the progress the NHS is making in primary care. Waiting times to see specialists have been significantly reduced and trusts are working together to see how best improvements can be made in the system.

"The findings of the Commonwealth Fund highlight the great strides made by the NHS and its staff and place it as a highly rated international care service.

"While this survey highlights many of the areas where the NHS is leading other developed healthcare systems, we must be mindful that there are other areas where we still have some way to go.

"These results should renew our determination to meet high standards across the board, not just in the chosen areas this study covers.

"The debate about structures, process, priorities and management will quite rightly carry on, but what these results clearly show are the ever improving services that patients have access to."

Source
The NHS Confederation