A number of studies, meanwhile, have highlighted problems in the NHS, which has become ‘stretched to breaking point’, according to an [b]OECD[/b] study which found that the UK now has the second lowest number of hospital beds per capita compared to 23 European countries, reports [s]The Independent[/s]. A health department spokesperson responded: ‘Bed numbers are not an accurate marker for good care. The NHS is treating people quicker than ever, and more care is being delivered in the community, so far fewer need to stay overnight.’
The UK’s [b]National Institute for Health and Care Excellence[/b] (Nice) has found that one in every 16 people treated at a NHS hospital falls ill with an infection. [s]The Guardian[/s] says that the research found that that the rate of infections, which are a ‘very real threat’ to patient’s lives, was ‘unacceptably high’.
And a NHS study has found at least 1,000 hospital patients are dying needlessly each month from dehydration and poor care by doctors and nurses, reports [s]The Daily Telegraph[/s]. Between 15,000 and 40,000 patients die annually because hospital staff fail to diagnose the treatable kidney problem, a figure that dwarfs the death toll from superbugs like [b]MRSA[/b].
[link url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/nhs-stretched-to-breaking-point-claims-international-study-9263211.html]Full report in The Independent[/link]
[link url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/apr/17/patients-nhs-hospitals-infections-health-watchdog]Full report in The Guardian[/link]
[link url=http://www.nice.org.uk/newsroom/pressreleases/DoctorsAndNursesMustRedoubleHygieneEffortsToBringDownInfectionRates.jsp]NICE release[/link]
[link url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10778537/Thousands-die-of-thirst-and-poor-care-in-NHS.html]Full report in The Telegraph[/link]