The NHS has been ranked as having one of the best primary health care systems in the world in a survey by the leading US think tank the Commonwealth Fund, published today.

In a survey of more than 10,000 primary care physicians in 11 developed countries, the NHS was rated top in a number of key areas including being the only country where the majority of doctors feel the quality of healthcare is improving.

The annual survey of international healthcare comparisons this year polled primary care doctors for their views on their health systems. The UK was rated top in several categories including:

Improvements in quality over the past three years;

Least likely to report long waiting times for patients referred for specialist care;

Managing chronic conditions with specialist teams;

Using financial incentives to reward doctors for good patient experience;

The use of patient satisfaction and experience data to improve services; and

The use of comparative data to review doctors' clinical performance.

Speaking from Washington at the Commonwealth Fund's 2009 international health symposium, Health Secretary Andy Burnham said:

"This is an important moment for the NHS. The journey to overhaul the quality of care over the last ten years has paid off. Clinicians now say they are confident they are treating and caring for patients in ways that match the best healthcare systems in the world. The NHS is not perfect but it has moved from poor to good and I want to see it go from good to great on the next stage of the journey.

"Primary care services are at the heart of the NHS, preventing illness, managing disease and helping people live healthier lives. Most recently our GPs have been doing a fantastic job at the forefront of our response to the swine flu outbreak starting the vaccination programme.

"Over the past few years, together with the profession, we have vastly improved access with over 75 per cent of GP practices now open longer hours and almost 100 new GP health centres across the country, open from 8am-8pm seven days a week - giving patients greater choice and flexibility.

"We will build on these great achievements, and focus on the challenge for the next decade - greater choice, more personalised and high quality care, taking the NHS from good to great.

"I would like today to pay tribute to the hard working NHS staff across the country and congratulate them for this magnificent achievement. This is a proud day for NHS staff and for the millions of patients they look after so well."

During a three day visit to Washington the Health Secretary will also be discussing key global health challenges such as the swine flu pandemic, the health effects of climate change and the shared challenge of obesity with his US counterpart and other opposite numbers.

Source
Department of Health, UK