January 7, 2025
by Aemulator Admin
by Aemulator AdminThe Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) State of Care Report for 2023/24
The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) State of Care Report for 2023/24 offers a comprehensive assessment of health and social care services in England, highlighting both achievements and areas requiring urgent attention.
Access to Services:
- General Practice (GP) and Dental Care: Access to GP appointments remains challenging, with the number of patients waiting over two weeks for a GP appointment rising by 18% to five million in March 2024. NHS dental care is facing a crisis, with patients in areas with low NHS dental activity increasingly relying on private care or resorting to ‘DIY’ dentistry due to accessibility issues.
- Delayed Discharges: In April 2024, 45% of delays in discharging patients from acute hospitals after 14 days were due to waits for care home beds and home-based care, affecting nearly 4,000 patients daily. Regional disparities exist, with London experiencing more delays due to waiting for care home beds, while the North East and Yorkshire faced delays for home-based care.
Workforce Challenges:
- Staffing Shortages: While care home staff vacancies decreased to 5.4% by the end of 2023/24, the report notes that increases in international recruitment have levelled off, and there has been an 81% decrease in overseas workers applying for health and care worker visas compared to the previous year.
Health Inequalities:
- Mental Health Services: Urgent referrals for adult mental health crises more than doubled from 1,400 in April 2023 to 3,063 in March 2024, highlighting significant strain on mental health services. The report also notes racial disparities, with Black individuals being over 3.5 times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act than their white counterparts.
- Maternity Care: The report reveals that nearly half of the 131 maternity units inspected were rated as ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate,’ with issues such as delayed triage, insufficient safety measures, and staff shortages compromising patient care.
- Children and Young People’s Services: Access to timely services for children and young people is a concern, with delays potentially leading to lasting health consequences.
Specific Concerns:
- Autism and Learning Disabilities: Average waiting times for autism assessments reached up to 328 days for adults and 356 days for children and young people by April 2024, significantly exceeding the recommended three-month timeframe.
- Dementia Care: While initiatives are improving the lives of those with dementia, there are concerns that staff may not always understand the specific needs of dementia patients.
The report underscores the need for systemic reforms to address these challenges, emphasizing the importance of equitable access to quality care, adequate workforce support, and targeted efforts to reduce health disparities across England.
