Which responds to the CQC State of Care Report

Alex Hayman, Which? Managing Director of Public Markets, said:

“We have heard hundreds of heartbreaking stories of families suffering because of a shortage of care home places – families with loved ones in care homes many miles away, or stuck in inadequate care because of a lack of specialist provision locally. Our research shows that the situation is getting worse and there could be a shortfall of 42,000 or more care home places by 2022.

“It’s now essential that the Competition and Markets Authority makes strong recommendations that push the Government to urgently and decisively tackle a system that is rapidly moving towards a state of crisis.”

Notes to Editors

  • According to recent Which? analysis, nine in 10 council areas across England could see a shortfall in care home places emerging by 2022 unless urgent action is taken
  • This shortfall is predicted to be particularly acute in 14 local authority areas, which, according to Which?’s modelling, could face a shortfall of 25% or more in the number of care home places needed. Half of these are London boroughs.
  • Bracknell Forest, in Berkshire, is set to see the biggest shortfall with 53% more care places needed by 2022 than are currently available. Followed by:
    • Lewisham (48%),
    • Harringey (38%),
    • Hartlepool (35%)
    • Milton Keynes (33%)
  • Overall the research shows there will be an estimated shortfall of 42,000 elderly care home beds by 2022 in England.
  • For more information, please visit: https://consumerinsight.which.co.uk/articles/Local%20Elderly%20Care%20Beds
  • Which? is calling on the CMA to urgently address the care homes crisis. To find out more, or to support the Care Needs Care Now campaign, please visit: which.co.uk/carecampaign

Press Release