More than 17,000 lives could be saved in the UK every year if healthcare was as safe as other developed countries, report suggests

More than 17,000 lives could be saved every year if healthcare in Britain was as safe as other developed nations, a report suggests.

Researchers at the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London examined data on 38 countries from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Norway finished top of the league table for patient safety, followed by Sweden and South Korea, while the UK placed 21st and Mexico in last place.

The experts focused on four key patient safety indicators for their rankings: maternal mortality, treatable mortality, adverse effects of medical treatment and neonatal disorders.

This includes causes of death that can be mainly avoided through timely and effective healthcare, including screening and treatment, and medical blunders.

The experts focused on four key patient safety indicators for their rankings: maternal mortality, treatable mortality, adverse effects of medical treatment and neonatal disorders (file image)

The analysis suggests that 17,356 lives could have been saved in the UK in 2019 if it had performed at the level of the top 10 per cent of countries.

This would have meant 15,773 fewer deaths classified as treatable mortality, 776 fewer neonatal deaths, 27 fewer maternal deaths and 780 fewer deaths due to adverse effects of medical treatment.

Many others have survived poor care but suffered avoidable physical or mental disabilities, which are not captured by this report, the authors note.

The countries included in the ‘Global State of Patient Safety’ report, commissioned by the charity Patient Safety Watch, are all members of the OECD.

It said: ‘Our patient safety country ranking highlights existing variations in performance and clear opportunities for shared international learning.’

The researchers warn that without more global cooperation and increased reporting of data, efforts to improve patient safety will be delayed or insufficient, risking harm and lives.

They considered 89 indicators for their report, including the four used to produce the league table, but no country was able to provide all of them.

Australia, New Zealand and Norway have the highest availability of patient safety data available, with 75, while the UK has 68.

Professor the Lord Ara Darzi, co-director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation, said: ‘To enhance patient safety, we must first recognise that progress is impossible without measurement.

‘Our report underscores the urgent need to establish a robust global framework for collecting comprehensive patient safety data, addressing existing data gaps, and implementing meaningful indicators.

‘Collaboration is the key to progress, and it is imperative that we work together to elevate patient safety.

‘Patient safety should be evaluated through the lens of the patient, and we must wholeheartedly embrace interventions that incorporate the perspectives of patients, families, and caregivers.’

James Titcombe, from Patient Safety Watch, said: ‘In 2020, 800 women died every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth worldwide’ (stock image)

James Titcombe, from Patient Safety Watch, said: ‘I am optimistic for a future with improved patient safety globally. But there is much work still to do.

‘In 2020, 800 women died every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth worldwide.

‘We must monitor and improve patient safety indicators and ensure that we engage patients in this effort.’

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: ‘Patient safety is paramount, and any death caused by failings in this area is unacceptable.

‘As this report recognises, the UK has taken significant steps to improve the safety of care.

‘We have delivered the first NHS Patient Safety Strategy and appointed the first Patient Safety Commissioner to make patients’ voices heard throughout the health system.

‘We have also established a new independent body – the Health Services Safety Investigations Body – to investigate serious patient safety incidents and embed system-wide learning, and last week announced a review into the NHS duty of candour.’