QualityWatch annual statement: quality of care getting worse in several services

Deteriorating quality in mental health services and worsening access to hospital care in England are evidence that some significant improvements in the quality of healthcare made over the past decade are starting to go into reverse, a new report finds today.  

‘Cause for Concern’ is the second annual statement on care quality published by the Health Foundation and the Nuffield Trust as part of their joint QualityWatch programme. Informed by over 200 quality metrics, the report finds that the overall quality of care across the NHS and social care system remains better than a decade ago, with real improvements in a number of areas including hospital safety, staffing levels and patient satisfaction.

But in contrast to last year’s statement suggesting that quality was broadly holding up, ‘Cause for Concern’ highlights clear signs of recent decline in quality across several areas. Of particular concern are: severe pressure on access to mental health services; lengthening hospital waiting times; and a rise in reported work-related stress among NHS and social care staff.

Read the full press release on the QualityWatch website.