London, 25th October 2024 – The annual Care Quality Commission (CQC) State of Care report has been released today, painting a bleak picture of the current state of the healthcare system in the UK. The report highlights a multitude of failures, including growing inequalities, critical safety concerns, and unacceptable waiting times across all services. From maternity care to mental health, from GP access to hospital discharges, the evidence shows a system that is increasingly unable to meet even basic care needs. Most concerning is the impact of these failures on society’s most vulnerable, as health inequalities continue to detrimentally impact patients.
The report reveals alarming statistics that highlight the extent of these systemic failures. According to the report:
– Children in the most deprived areas are twice as likely to experience tooth decay
– People in the most deprived areas are three times more likely to require emergency hospital treatment
– Rural communities face the longest GP waiting times
– Black people are over three and a half times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act
– Almost half of maternity units inspected were rated as ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’
– Only a quarter of people with learning disabilities are recorded on the learning disability register
– Autism assessment waiting times have reached nearly a year, instead of the recommended three months.
These statistics represent real suffering that could have been prevented. While NHS reform is crucial, the report emphasizes that health inequalities are rooted in poverty, housing, education, and employment.
The crisis extends across all healthcare settings, with diagnostic waiting lists increasing by 52% since 2019 and 1.62 million people now waiting for a diagnosis. Cancer waiting time standards are consistently being missed, and mental health patients are waiting “several months – and in some cases several years” for treatment. Social care delays are also leaving 4,000 people stranded in hospital each day.
In response to these alarming findings, the Patients Association is calling on the government to launch an urgent cross-department action plan that addresses the root causes of these inequalities. The plan should focus on:
– Tackling poverty and its impact on health
– Addressing the rural-urban healthcare divide
– Ensuring equal access to dental care for all children
– Confronting discrimination and racism in health services
– Providing proper support for all carers, particularly those from ethnic minority communities.
The Patients Association stresses the need for joined-up action across government departments to tackle these deep-rooted inequalities before they become even more embedded in our society.
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About the Patients Association
The Patients Association is an independent patient charity campaigning for improvements in health and social care for patients. The organization believes that patients should be actively involved in decisions made about their care and in the design of the health and care system. As an independent charity, the Patients Association campaigns for improvements in health and social care, with the belief that improvements can only be achieved if the system works in partnership with patients. Through their helpline and information services, the organization provides information to thousands of people each year about the health and social care system, enabling them to advocate for themselves.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.