
ALT Prof Karen Middleton, chief executive of the CSP, said: ‘These findings will come as no surprise to anyone currently caught up in this disastrous situation. It is a failing system that is having dire consequences for patients waiting to go home and for the rest of the NHS. The chickens are coming home to roost after years of cuts and under-investment in social care and community services, such as rehabilitation, which enable people to leave hospital when they are well enough to do so. Attention is understandably paid to the queues of ambulances waiting outside A&E but investment in the community reduces those pressures by preventing avoidable or unnecessary admissions – and readmissions – while ensuring those who do end up in hospital are able to leave promptly and keep the who system moving. Properly resourced and staffed community rehabilitation services, allied with well-funded social care, is essential if we are to stop so many people being failed.'




























