T H E P U B L I C AT I O N F O R N U R S I N G A N D R E S I D E N T I A L C A R E H O M E S Issue 121
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Care System “In Crisis” and “Gridlocked” - CQC Report Warns
The adult social care sector has called on the Government to properly fund and reform social care to end a ‘gridlock’ in the care of older and vulnerable people. A highly critical new report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has highlighted the “gridlocked” state of health and social care in England, saying it is “unable to operate effectively” amidst record demand and workforce crises. The report states: • The workforce crisis in social care is greater than that of the NHS, with 165,000 vacancies. • Around 500,000 people are waiting for an adult social care assessment, for care or a direct payment to begin, or for a review of their care. • In the first 3 months of 2022, 2.2m hours of homecare could not be delivered because of insufficient workforce capacity, leading to unmet need and undermet needs.
• Only 2 in 5 people are able to leave hospital when they are ready to so. CQC commissioned a survey of more than 4000 people aged 65 and over who had used health or social care services in previous 6 months: • Over 1 in 5 people (22%) said they were currently on a waiting list for healthcare services. • 37% on a health waiting list did not feel well supported by health and care services • 41% said their ability to carry out day-to-day activities had got worse while waiting • Of those waiting for a care needs assessment, 57% said they felt very or fairly well supported while waiting but 36% said they felt they were not very well or not at all supported.
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