NHS applauded for boost in quality of hospital care

British Medical Journal pinpoints areas of improvement in safety standards

The quality and safety of much of the care offered by the NHS is good and getting better, health experts report in tomorrow's British Medical Journal.

Researchers said: "Baseline performance across hospitals was already high on many criteria relating to quality, leaving little room for improvement". They cited a strong performance by the NHS in areas such as stopping blood clots, improving handwashing by staff, monitoring seriously ill patients' vital signs, reducing hospital-acquired infections, and giving steroids promptly to those with breathing problems.

David Cameron and the health secretary, Andrew Lansley, have recently criticised the NHS for not offering the same quality of care in key areas, such as cancer and heart problems, as other European countries, notably France, although doctors and the King's Fund thinktank have challenged their claims.


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