Most of Europe has better healthcare than Britain

Patients get better healthcare in Estonia, Cyprus and the Czech Republic than they do in Britain, a survey claimed last week.

The National Health Service was condemned as “mediocre” and placed 17th of 29 European countries, despite the billions of extra pounds it has received from the government. When value for money is included in the balance, Britain drops to 26th – beating only Bulgaria, Poland and Latvia. Austria was rated top, followed by Holland and France.

“Where the UK lets patients down is by poor access to new treatments, especially in cancer,” said the report from Health Consumer Powerhouse, a Swedish think tank. It also said that waiting times were still too long and not enough was being done to combat MRSA.

The report showed the extent of the task facing Lord Darzi, the health minister and cancer surgeon, who last week unveiled his plans to make the NHS more cost-effective and innovative.

His report, Our NHS, Our Future, is likely to form the centrepiece of Labour’s election manifesto. Among the plans unveiled were: Half of GP practices should open longer in the evenings and on Saturdays. New GP “superclinics” to be established in convenient high street locations. All patients entering hospital to be screened for MRSA.

Some commentators said the report failed to attack some of the deep-rooted problems of the health service. “The reason the NHS does not change is because the incentives are not there,” said Nigel Hawkes of The Times.

“Managers who innovate take risks. If they go wrong, cost money, or produce headlines, the Department of Health can be relied upon to provide no backing.”

Economy to slow

An economic slowdown is on the way, it’s been revealed – just as Gordon Brown is deciding whether to call an election. The chancellor, Alistair Darling, is expected to downgrade the official Treasury prediction of 2.5%-3% growth, reports the Financial Times.

“Slower growth will put extra strain on the public finances and cast a degree of economic uncertainty over Gordon Brown as he wrestles with whether to call a November election,” says the FT. In an interview with the paper, Darling said the downturn in the US housing market and the credit squeeze would “undoubtedly” affect Britain.

Some City analysts predict growth of around 2% next year, which would mean a fall in tax revenue for the government and a tight rein on public spending.

The chancellor used the interview to warn that public sector pay awards must be kept “under control”. He will present his prebudget report to the Commons this Tuesday.

Fright-lite Hallowe’en

Two supermarkets are to tone down some of Hallowe’en’s horror after an appeal from a Church of England bishop. Asda has told David Gillett, the Bishop of Bolton, it will stock costumes and accessories with a “lighter” feel. Sainsbury says it will sell glowsticks, hair braids and face paint in addition to the usual monster masks and devil costumes. “We want to make Hallowe’en fun and spooky, not scary and horrible. We just want it to be about the triumph of good over evil,” said Gillett.

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