UK Ranked Behind Western Counterparts in Patient Safety: Report

More than 17,000 deaths could have been saved in the UK annually had the country performed at the level of the top OECD countries, a study has revealed. Research conducted by the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London showed that Britain is lagging behind other nations in providing safe and effective care for patients. The institute’s report shed light on the challenges in patient safety across the world. Its country ranking reviewed 38 member nations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The study included four key patient safety indicators: maternal mortality, treatable mortality, adverse effects of medical treatment, and neonatal disorders....