The Real NHS in The UK

This is for all my US friends who may have been bombarded recently by the Republicans with negative and false pictures of our UK national health system. I well remember the campaign debates.Barack Obama really is on the right course for the US.

The key issue, dare I suggest, is the provision of universal healthcare. Courtesy of the provision of universal healthcare in the UK, citizens live longer than their US counterparts and have a better chance of surviving childbirth. The NHS also offers value for money. Taxes are cheaper than insurance schemes.

There are areas where the quality of treatment in the US is better than in the UK. However, gaps in key areas such cancer treatment are narrowing. UK citizens are also at liberty to pay for private treatment if they wish and can afford it. All taxpayers are obligated to maintain the NHS.

These are the comparators that are really worth noting:

Health spending as a share of GDP
US 16%
UK 8.4%

Public spending on healthcare (% of total spending on healthcare)
US 45%
UK 82%

Health spending per head
US $7,290
UK $2,992

Practising physicians (per 1,000 people)
US 2.4
UK 2.5

Nurses (per 1,000 people)
US 10.6
UK 10.0

Acute care hospital beds (per 1,000 people)
US 2.7
UK 2.6

Life expectancy:
US 78
UK 80

Infant mortality (per 1,000 live births)
US 6.7
UK 4.8

[From today's Independent]