The state of health and care
Problems are persisting with mental health, maternity and ambulance services, and adult social care provision is unstable, the regulator has warned.
Key findings
- 10% of maternity services are rated as inadequate overall, 39% require improvement and women and babies from ethnic minority groups face greater risks of harm.
- 40% of mental health providers are rated inadequate or require improvement on safety and people end up in A&E because of gaps in community or inpatient services.
- Adult social care budgets haven’t kept pace with running costs of services, and provision may be worse in deprived areas, where more people need council-funded care.
- Research commissioned by CQC shows more people turning to private care, when they previously would have used the NHS.
The report acknowledges research published by Healthwatch England. It also says the role of Healthwatch in shining a light on health inequalities
“Maternity services and mental health services have been a particular area of inspection focus for us this year, and while we have seen some good practice, we have seen too many examples of poor care, and have taken action to protect people when necessary”
The report says:
The number of people on waiting lists for treatment has grown to record figures and in the face of longer waits, those who can afford it are increasingly turning to private healthcare. 41% felt their health deteriorated while they were on a waiting list to be admitted to hospital.
Local authority social care budgets have failed to keep pace with rising costs and the increase in the number of people needing care ... there is the risk that people who live in more deprived areas, and are more likely to receive local authority funded care, may not be able to get the care they need.
Gaps in community care continue to put pressure on mental health inpatient services, with many inpatient services struggling to provide a bed, which in turn leads to people being cared for in inappropriate environments – often in A&E.
