Strong NHS community services essential to shift more care from hospitals

The Care Quality Commission has warned that a lack of investment in community services threatens the shift towards care outside hospitals.
 
Daniel Elkeles, chief executive, NHS Providers, said:
 
"Community services are pivotal to the success of the government’s aim to shift more care from hospitals closer to where people are.
 
"While there are green shoots towards making the ambitions of reform a reality, the Care Quality Commission’s report shows the sheer scale of the challenge. Much of the data revealed in the report is going in the wrong direction.
 
"Where we see significant investment in brilliant community services we see fewer people going to hospital, including for emergency care. This shows the importance of community services, working closely with the rest of the NHS, GPs, social care and voluntary groups, in achieving better joined-up care and outcomes for patients as well as easing the strain on other parts of the health system.
 
"To look after the physical and mental health of an ageing population and to prioritise care for children and young people the need to support and value strong community services is clear."