CQC publishes the state of health care and adult social care
10 February 2010
People need health and social care services that are more joined-up and person-centred, says our first annual report to parliament on the state of health care and adult social care.
Services have steadily improved overall but rising demand and pressure on finances make reform essential. We applaud overall improvements over recent years, but caution that some services were lagging behind the pack and that there were areas of common concern across health and social care, notably keeping people safe and staff training.
Drawing on the richest sources of information available, this is the first time that an independent regulator has looked simultaneously across both the health and social care sectors.
Find out more about the state of health care and adult social care:
CQC’s interim chair, Dame Jo Williams, said: “Overall, there have been steady improvements and it is really important to celebrate that. Successes have come in areas that really matter to people such as reducing hospital infection rates and helping people live independently at home. But we are mindful of the fact that pockets of poor practice remain. This must be addressed.
Turning to the future, Williams said: “We all know that the context is changing. Trends such as increasing demand and rising expectations will be exacerbated by pressure on finances. That means we cannot go on as we are. To cope, we need some radical changes in the way that we organise and deliver services.
“This means shifting the culture away from a one-size-fits-all approach to care that puts the needs of individuals and carers at the centre of everything. A key part of this will involve helping people maintain their independence and health.”
She added: “We hope providers and commissioners of services will seize on the information we are making available and use it to improve care for the people using their services.”
