The Care Quality Commission (CQC)’s annual assessment of health and social care in England over the past year has highlighted the continuing crisis in social care, with increasing numbers of people unable to access the care they need.  

Responding to today’s report, Edel Harris OBE, Chief Executive of the learning disability charity Mencap, said: 

“Crisis is a word we hear too often, but the government can be under no illusions that the social care system is on the brink of collapse and without urgent action, millions of people will be left without the care they need and deserve.

“Today’s CQC report shows a deluge of unmet need, with thousands of disabled people and their families bearing the brunt of reduced access to support and an understaffed, undervalued social care workforce. 

“People with a learning disability should be actively involved in decisions affecting their own care but instead, they’re left waiting and as a result are at increased risk of harm and are experiencing poorer quality care.

“We need more funding from government to deal with these pressures, to improve access to timely care and support and address the recruitment and retention crisis in the social care workforce.  

“Our message to the next Prime Minister is simple; don’t turn your back on people with a learning disability.”