Our response to the Care Quality Commission State of Care report 2022/23

The report looks at the trends, shares examples of good and outstanding care, and highlights where care needs to improve.

Rosie Benneyworth, Interim Chief Executive at the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB), says: “This crucial report highlights that over the last year the long waits for planned and emergency treatment, workforce burnout and inequity in accessing care have all impacted on ability of the health service to deliver safe care to patients.

“The report has brought some of the most urgent issues facing healthcare to the fore and there are areas of concern highlighted that we will be examining through our work. In the coming months we will launch investigations on mental health inpatient services and fatigue. We have already launched an investigation looking at workforce pressures. Overall, our investigations will always look at the impact of health inequalities and consider for example where technology can the improve quality of care.

“It is positive that the report highlights the need for joined up working and has emphasised the role of integrated care systems in addressing disparities in their local populations. Through our investigations, we have seen where gaps in care have led to poor experiences, poor outcomes and patient harm. This is a particular risk when patients transition between care settings.

“The report today reinforces once again that it is vital that all patient safety organisations work together to ensure that we can help to give local, regional, national systems the best possible opportunity to deliver safe care for all.”