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Rob Webster, chief executive of the NHS Confederation commented on the international comparisons of healthcare quality report

“This useful piece of research highlights some of the real achievements made by the NHS in recent times, including on cancer screening, reducing heart attacks, flu vaccination and antibiotic prescribing rates. The report shows the UK has improved on almost every measure and is testament to the hard work being done by health and care staff across the NHS.

"The report also highlights areas where we can and must do better – not least around survival rates for common cancers. This may be a problem with late presentation and lifestyle factors - as shown in many director of public health reports across the UK.

"To address these big challenges our members will need to work closely with partners in local government and the voluntary sector to develop a new relationship with the public. At the same time we will need to transform how we provide care so that the modern health service meets 21st Century health needs.  We can climb the mountain Nigel Edwards describes but only if we do it together and if local government has the resources to support the public's health.”