Posted on: 28th October, 2026
CQC State of Care report highlights inequalities and pressures across health and social care
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published its latest State of Care report, its annual assessment of health and adult social care in England, highlighting continued pressure across services alongside persistent inequalities in access, quality and outcomes.
Published on 23 October 2026, The state of health care and adult social care in England 2025/26 reports that demand for health and adult social care continues to grow, with needs becoming increasingly complex in some areas. The CQC also identifies signs of improvement, including increased GP appointments, greater use of digital solutions and shorter waits for elective care, but says progress is not keeping pace with demand in all parts of the system.
The report draws particular attention to inequalities affecting children and young people. More than 80,000 children and young people were reported to have been waiting over a year for a community health appointment, while the number waiting for their first contact with mental health services increased by 31% over two years. The CQC also highlights geographical and socioeconomic variation in access to services and health outcomes.
Adult social care is another key focus. The regulator describes a rapidly changing market, characterised by increasing consolidation among care homes alongside a growing number of smaller homecare providers. While almost three-quarters of the sector is rated good or outstanding, the CQC identifies leadership as the area most in need of improvement and highlights the importance of commissioning, workforce capacity and long-term financial sustainability.
Across health and social care, the report stresses the interdependence of services, including the relationship between social care capacity and hospital discharge, and between community mental health provision and demand for crisis care. It calls for a coordinated approach across providers, commissioners, regulators and government to address these pressures and inequalities.
Further information
This article was prepared with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) and reviewed by the Academy for Healthcare Science for accuracy and relevance before publication.
