Where to go to get the best care for your condition in Europe: From diabetes, cancer, heart and lung disease, depression and arthritis, our experts have crunched the data to reveal their ultimate guide and where you're most likely to die
Share:
The UK is often referred to as the 'sick man of Europe'. And at first glance the description may seem merited. Just last month the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) revealed that life expectancy here is the lowest in Western Europe.
![[Dame Lesley Regan, the women's health ambassador for England, has criticised the UK's three-year cancer screening schedule for being dictated by 'budgets' and 'not based on scientific evidence']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/18/93204605-14198613-image-m-60_1734375094163.jpg)
This follows a 2020 Public Health England report which found that, while we compared well against the US, we lag behind European nations such as Spain, the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries on rates of chronic illness, disability and death from poor health.
![[Rates of depression in the UK have been steadily rising. Five years ago, we ranked eighth across Europe, and now we're second only to Sweden]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/18/93204697-14198613-image-a-61_1734375199379.jpg)
What's more, our cancer survival rates are so far behind our European neighbours that patients with prostate, bowel, breast and cervical cancers in the UK today have the same chance of surviving as those in Sweden, Denmark and Norway did around two decades ago, according to the charity Macmillan Cancer Support.
On top of that, the UK has one of the highest obesity rates in Europe (only Turkey and Malta are worse). And yet… it isn't all bad news. The UK leads the way in reducing smoking levels – and the NHS is one of the few healthcare systems providing free medication and check-ups for some people with chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes.
Here we look at how the UK really compares with Europe in tackling common conditions – and what could improve our ratings. Just last month the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) revealed that life expectancy in the UK is the lowest in Western Europe.
Share:
More for You
