Comparative Health Outcomes

HC Deb 07 March 2002 vol 381 cc552-3W

Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the differences in(a) health outcomes and (b) the effectiveness of health services between England and other developed countries; and if he will make a statement. [10742]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 31 October 2001]I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2000,Official Report, column 192W.

Making comparisons between health services in different countries on a like-for-like basis is not straightforward and truly comparable data are often unavailable. However, "The NHS Plan", published last year, contains some assessment of the differences between the United Kingdom and health services in other developed countries.

This assessment contributed to the programme as set out in "The NHS Plan". The national health service will continue to improve in effectiveness and efficiency as the plan is implemented.

We have promised the following extra resources to help improve NHS services: 7,000 extra beds in hospitals and intermediate care over 100 new hospitals by 2010 and 500 new one-stop primary care centers over 3,000 general practitioner premises modernised and 250 new scanners clean wards—overseen by "modern matrons"—and better hospital food modern information technology systems in every hospital and GP surgery and investment in staff: 7,500 more consultants and 2,000 more GPs 20,000 extra nurses and 6,500 extra therapists 1,000 more medical school places Child care support for NHS staff with 100 on-site nurseries.

In addition to extra resources it is essential that investment is accompanied by reform.

The Department is setting national standards, matched by regular inspection of all local health bodies by the Commission for Health Improvement.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence will ensure that cost effective drugs like those for cancer are not dependent on where you live. The NHS Modernisation Agency has been set up to spread best practice.