WGPlus (Archive)

The size of the problem will increase

This year’s State of Care CQC report shows that, thanks to the efforts of staff & leaders, the quality of health & social care has been maintained despite very real challenges and the majority of people are getting good, safe careBut future quality is precarious as the system struggles with complex new types of demand, access and cost.

However, the changing nature of demand (increasing numbers of older people who are physically frail, many with dementia, more people with long term complex conditions) is placing unprecedented pressure on the system.

In acute hospitals, this means more people waiting over 4 hours at A&E; more planned operations cancelled, and people waiting longer for treatment.  And in adult social care, the number of beds in nursing homes has decreased across most of England and domiciliary care contracts are being handed back to councils because providers say the funding is insufficient to meet people’s needs; estimates show that one in eight older people are not receiving the help they need.

A very small minority of care was found to be failing people (between 1% & 3% of providers across the services CQC regulates) were rated inadequate.  There is also much care that needs to improve: 19% (2016: 26%) of adult social care services; 37% (2016: 39%) of NHS acute core services; 24% (2016: 33%) of NHS mental health core services; and 6% (2016: 10%) of GP practices were rated as requires improvement.

Researched Links:

CQC:  Most people still getting good care – but health & care system is ‘straining at the seams’, making future quality precarious

CQC:  Most people are getting good, safe care

LGA responds to CQC ‘State of Care’ report

LGA responds to ADASS social care budget survey

If social care goes down, we all go down, warns NHS Confederation in response to CQC report

Patients Association response to CQC State of Care report

The King’s Fund comments on the CQC’s annual State of Care report

Social Care Ombudsman welcomes strong leadership in CQC State of Care report

techUK:  Are you an industry leader in health & social care? We want to hear from you

Care shouldn’t end at the hospital exit

Presumably Public Health spending is being ‘robbed’ to help fill the social care 'black hole'

This problem is not going to be solved by taxing a few people a lot more

With medical staff costs continually rising, we need other alternatives

Free, Secure, Compliant UK Public Sector IT Recycling Service