Matthew d’Ancona (Hunt can take on the doctors by showing he’s for the NHS, 11 January) plays the same game as government ministers by trying to impress by simply quoting a large absolute number (£116.6bn) as justification for the level of current spending on health in England. This figure needs to be put into context. According to the latest figures available (2013) the UK spends 8.5% of its GDP on health (public and private combined). This compares with the OECD average of 8.9% and the 11% spent by Germany, France and the Netherlands. If we invested in health at OECD levels we would be spending an additional £5.5bn per annum. If we spent the same as our near neighbours we would be spending £34.3bn per annum more. What a difference that would make!
Mike Collier
York
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