Unsustainable pressures on health and care services risk exacerbating inequalities

Responding to the publication of the Care Quality Commission’s State of Care report and the Adult Social Care Activity and Finance Report, Tim Gardner, Assistant Director of Policy at the Health Foundation, said: 

'Today’s report shows that the ongoing strains on NHS and social care services are driving unfair and unacceptable waits for care. While these pressures touch every part of England, the CQC highlights growing inequalities. In social care, new data also show that fewer people accessed long term support in 2022 than in 2015, despite growing demand. 

‘Long-term underfunding and chronic staffing shortages across health and social care mean that many people are going without the care they need. Those who can afford to are increasingly turning to private care while others are having to rely on family and friends. Unpaid carers are now spending longer caring for loved ones, potentially widening inequalities as those who provide the highest levels of unpaid care are more likely to come from lower-income households.  

‘Given that public support for government policies on the NHS and social care is low, this report should be a wake-up call for policymakers. As we head towards the next general election, the main political parties must set out concrete plans for addressing the underlying causes of these pressures – including investing in and reforming our broken social care system.’ 

Media contact

Creina Lilburne
creina.lilburne@health.org.uk
020 7664 4647