The health and care system in England is gridlocked and unable to operate effectively, according to inspectors.
The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC’s) annual assessment of the sector has found that most people are still receiving good care when they can access it – but that too often they are not able to get the care they need in the first place.
Health and care staff want to provide good, safe care but are struggling to do so, and more are leaving than ever before.
Providers are finding it increasingly challenging to recruit, resulting in “alarmingly high vacancy rates which have a direct impact on people’s care”.
Without action now, staff retention will continue to decline across health and care, increasing pressure on services, leading to worse outcomes for people and putting them at greater risk of harm, the report says.
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “All of this will impact on the ability of people of all ages to stay well, to work and to live the life they want to lead.
“Urgent action is needed as we approach winter to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis, including on staff pay, conditions, skills, training and development.
“And this then needs to be built on with long-term funding plans; a cycle of short-term injections of funding will not deliver the sustained change that is needed.”