The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has raised concerns in its annual report that cost of living pressures and NHS backlogs in England are creating a two-tier health service where those who can’t afford to pay are waiting longer for care.
The CQC states that local authority budgets haven’t kept pace with rising costs and the increasing number of people requiring care. Some who pay for their own care are reducing visits for basic needs, and patients are resorting to private care for faster access to operations. The report indicates a “notable decline” in maternity, mental health, and ambulance services as well as challenges in the social care system.
