Analysis by the Kings Fund has found that the NHS has among the lowest per capita numbers of doctors, nurses and hospital beds in the western world.
The figures, compiled from 21 countries by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development show that only Poland has fewer doctors and nurses than the UK, while only Canada, Denmark and Sweden have fewer hospital beds.
The UK has 2.8 doctors per 1,000 people, while Austria has 5.1 doctors per 1,000 of population. The UK has 7.9 nurses per 1,000 people, while Switzerland has 18 nurses per 1,000 people.
The Kings Fund concludes that given the large discrepancy between the UK and other countries “A general picture emerges that suggests the NHS is under-resourced.”