Read on Twitter
"The UK doesn't have enough doctors & nurses" "The NHS is underfunded"
One of the criticisms of the UK's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been the shortage of healthcare professionals & the under-funding of the #NHS
So, what does the data show? A thread.
1/ In 2017 an organisation called the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) gathered data from 33 countries.
It showed U.K. had 2.8 doctors per 1000 people.
In Europe, only Poland & Slovenia had fewer doctors.
It showed U.K. had 2.8 doctors per 1000 people. In Europe, only Poland & Slovenia had fewer doctors.
2/ "How about nurses? @MattHancock said we had loads?"
The data suggests this isn't much better.
In the UK the number of practicing nurses was 7.8/1000 population. This was lower than:
OECD average = 9.3 nurses/1000 population
EU average = 8.5 nurses/1000 population
"How about nurses? @MattHancock said we had loads?"The data suggests this isn't much better.
In the UK the number of practicing nurses was 7.8/1000 population. This was lower than:
OECD average = 9.3 nurses/1000 population EU average = 8.5 nurses/1000 population
3/ 
This is all on a background of an aging population and spending cuts.
Between 2010-2017 the number of individuals aged over 80 in the U.K. 
by 340,000. We know those over 80 are more at risk from COVID-19.
At the same time:
Spending on adult social care by 6.4%
This is all on a background of an aging population and spending cuts.Between 2010-2017 the number of individuals aged over 80 in the U.K. by 340,000. We know those over 80 are more at risk from COVID-19. At the same time:
Spending on adult social care by 6.4%
4/ 
Overall UK spending on healthcare as a proportion of GDP is also low vs. other OECD countries.
The graph below shows the average spend of comparator countries e.g. Switzerland, France, Denmark, Germany (yellow dashed line) compared to the UK (solid purple line)
Overall UK spending on healthcare as a proportion of GDP is also low vs. other OECD countries. The graph below shows the average spend of comparator countries e.g. Switzerland, France, Denmark, Germany (yellow dashed line) compared to the UK (solid purple line)
5/ For tweet I used the following research:
Paper: "Performance of UK National Health Service compared with other high income countries: observational study."
Authors: @IPapanicolas, @MOSSIALOS, @lwoskie, @ashishkjha & Anders Gundersen.
Link: https://bit.ly/34TigDx
Paper: "Performance of UK National Health Service compared with other high income countries: observational study."
Authors: @IPapanicolas, @MOSSIALOS, @lwoskie, @ashishkjha & Anders Gundersen.Link: https://bit.ly/34TigDx
6/ Paper: "UK has fewer doctors per person than most other OECD countries"
Author: @tommoberly
Link: https://bit.ly/3pvqV70
Author: @tommoberly Link: https://bit.ly/3pvqV70
7/ I don't have something to promote/sell. I just ask anyone reading this to try maintain social distancing & to wear a mask to help ease the burden on the NHS. I know firsthand that clinical teams are tired & under pressure & any positive individual action is appreciated -Thanks
