A major international study shows that the NHS is performing well for patients in many areas including some aspects of mental health care, vaccinations and preventative care, such as the number of unplanned hospital admissions for people with diabetes.

However, the report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) entitled ‘Health at a Glance’ also shows that England still lags behind other countries on some patient outcomes. These include cancer, stroke and respiratory disease outcomes despite spending more on healthcare than the OECD average. It also reiterates the increasing pressures on the NHS due to obesity and other lifestyle related diseases and long-term conditions.

The government will soon set out updated plans to improve patient results and address issues flagged in the report through the NHS Outcomes Framework for 2012/13. The Framework, which has been endorsed by the OECD, lies at the heart of the plans to modernise the NHS and sets out criteria the NHS must focus on, including.

Responding to the OECD report, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: “This report is further evidence of the need to modernise our health service. It clearly shows that although the NHS is doing well in some areas, it is still lagging behind other countries in some key areas of patient care.”

“Improving patient results is a top priority for me. We need to allow the NHS to focus on what really matters to patients; things like survival rates, recovery rates and whether people can live independently and with dignity.  Because I want a modern health service that works around patients and their needs – so that we have an NHS that consistently achieves health outcomes amongst the best in the world.”