UK healthcare 'worse than in Estonia'

Patients receive worse healthcare in the UK than in former Soviet state Estonia, a report claims today.

Services in Britain were ranked 13th - one spot above Hungary - in a league table of 31 European nations.

Responding to the results, Health Secretary Alan Johnson condemned the data as "flawed".

The UK improved on its position last year, when it was four places lower, the report claimed.

The best-performing countries in the Euro Health Consumer Index, conducted in Brussels, were Holland, Denmark, Austria and Luxembourg.

A spokeswoman for Health Consumer Powerhouse (HCP), which has been compiling the annual index since 2005, said: "We hope this table sparks debate about having the NHS or private health services as are offered in the Netherlands."

The organisation's president, Johan Hjertqvist, added: "It is justified to say that the Dutch have the best healthcare system in Europe. When the Obama healthcare policy team looks in Europe for inspiration it seems to be the right system to study."

In another international report, Britain's health services compared better however.

Despite lengthy waits for specialist care, Commonwealth Fund research found the UK has one of the highest performing health services for "access", "chronic illness" and "efficiency".

Services compared favourably with those in Canada, New Zealand, France, Germany and the US, the authors said.

The Government welcomed the Commonwealth Fund data but criticised the Health Consumer Powerhouse findings.

Mr Johnson said: "The UK has been one of the highest performing health services for the past three years, particularly on quality, managing chronic illnesses and primary care access.

"The report highlights that the NHS is one of the most cost effective systems whilst at the same time being one of the most accessible.

"Thanks to the dedication of NHS staff and our record investment over the past 10 years, patients are experiencing shorter waits to see a family doctor at times that are more convenient for them.

"The NHS is caring for more people and saving more lives than at any time in its history with waiting lists at their lowest ever levels, one million more operations a year, 50,000 more lives saved from better cancer services, over 100 new or refurbished hospitals and 280,000 more staff since 1997.

"The European Consumer Index report is not anchored in any reputable academic or international organisation. It uses flawed methodology and old data. It is not in the same category as the respected Commonwealth Fund report."

The Commonwealth Fund found the UK's health service was outperforming the US in several categories.

It said: "Compared to patients in seven other countries, chronically ill adults in the United States are far more likely to forgo care because of costs.

"They also experience the highest rates of medical errors, co-ordination problems, and high out-of-pocket costs."

Nigel Edwards, policy director of the NHS Confederation, said Britain's ranking in the index was "meaningless".

He said: "The Euro Consumer Health Index should carry its own health warning pointing out that anything but the broadest comparison using their figures is meaningless."

Stephen O'Brien, a Conservative shadow health minister, said: "This is further evidence of the incompetence of ministers when it comes to running the NHS."