The NHS costs more than most countries’ health services but has fewer beds and pays nurses less, report claims

THE NHS costs more than most countries’ health services but has fewer beds and scanners and pays nurses less, according to a report.

Eleven per cent of national wealth is spent on the NHS, the sixth highest out of 48 countries.

Yet we have 2.4 hospital beds per 1,000 people, compared with a 4.3 average, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said.

There are 19 CT, MRI and PET scanners per million people in the NHS, the sixth lowest.

We have 3.2 doctors and 8.7 nurses per 1,000 people, both below average.

And nurses’ pay is lower than the average worker, while it is higher in most other countries, the OECD said.

The report said the UK was better than average on access to healthcare and patient satisfaction.

Professor Nicola Ranger, of the Royal College of Nursing, said yesterday: “Politicians should see this as an indictment and a source of shame.

“On the day the Government only gave the NHS a passing reference in the King's speech, the UK is being shown up.

“Patients are paying the highest price for this unsafe system.”