CQC calls for overhaul of health and social care funding, commissioning and regulation

The CQC has called for an overhaul of health and social care funding, commissioning and regulation.

The Beyond Barriers report follows the completion of 20 local authority area reviews exploring how older people move between health and social care services in England.

Sir David Behan, Chief Executive of CQC, said: “Our findings show the urgent necessity for real change. A system designed in 1948 can no longer effectively meet the complex needs of increasing numbers of older people in 2018. People’s conditions have evolved – and that means the way the system works together has got to change too.”

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The report makes a number of recommendations including long-term funding reform in order to help social care and NHS commissioners pool their resources to meet the needs of their local populations.

Care Minister Caroline Dinenage said: “This report confirms what we already know – the provision of NHS services and social care are two sides of the same coin and it is not possible to have a plan for the NHS without having a plan for social care.

“There are good examples of progress in integrating health and care, including through the Better Care Fund and ongoing joint health and social care assessments pilots, but we know we need to do more. That’s why we will publish a Green Paper in the autumn on social care around the same time as the government’s long term plan for the NHS.”

The report’s findings were welcomed by social care leaders.

Vic Rayner, Executive Director of NCF, said: “The report highlights the real impact of the current shortfalls in integrated practice on people. By exploring the failings of the current system through the lens of people’s journeys, it makes it crystal clear why the need to change is imperative and through the exemplification of good practice – what real impact different approaches can have.”

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, added: “This new approach is to be welcomed particularly the recommendation for better oversight of local systems and commissioning.  New regulation we hope will allow CQC to regulate not just individual organisations, but the quality of service for people across systems.

“Improving regulation is a huge part of the jigsaw, but will not be complete without commensurate funding to plug the shortfall in adult social care.”