Health at a glance 2021: OECD Indicators - Highlights for the United Kingdom (November 2021)

Summary

This analysis by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development provides the latest comparable data and trends on the performance of health systems in OECD countries and key emerging economies. It examines performance indicators that suggest the following trends:

• Overall health status in the United Kingdom is close to the OECD average
• Overweight/obesity and alcohol consumption are higher than the OECD average 
• Population coverage is high, with high satisfaction and strong financial protection
• The United Kingdom performs well on many key indicators of care quality, though avoidable hospital admissions could be further reduced
• Health and long-term care spending are above average, though hospital beds and the number of doctors and nurses are slightly below the OECD average

The analysis also looks at the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on deaths, health spending, life expectancy, healthcare activity and mental health.