The Lord Darzi Report: Urgent action needed to address social care crisis and alleviate NHS pressures

Care England, the leading voice of adult social care providers in England, commends Lord Darzi’s Independent investigation of the NHS, which underscores the undeniable interdependence between social care and the NHS. Today’s report highlight’s what Care England has long advocated: that reforming social care is essential to alleviating the pressures on our healthcare system.

Professor Martin Green, Chief Executive of Care England commented:

“Ministers must recognise that investing in and reforming social care is not just a separate issue. it is integral to the survival and success of the NHS. Right now, 13% of NHS beds are occupied by patients awaiting social care support. These delays are not just numbers; they represent people who deserve timely care in the right setting. Until we address this backlog in social care, we will continue to see pressure mount on hospitals and the NHS.”

With around 10% of care home residents receiving NHS-funded Continuing Healthcare and over 76,000 in receipt of Funded Nursing Care, the relationship between social care and the NHS is clear. Social care services not only feed into NHS outcomes, but they also hold solutions that can prevent hospital admissions and ease discharge processes. The current failure to act decisively means that immediate action is needed to address the failing NHS and its impact on social care.

Importantly, the report identified that social care has not been valued or resourced sufficiently, having profound human costs and economic consequences.

Martin continues:

“We are ready to engage with the government and offer solutions. The expertise exists within social care to contribute to reform for both the NHS and social care, and we are ready, able and willing to be part of the solution development and not just participate in a box ticking consultation. Now is a critical moment for change.”

The report also highlights how NHS England and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have continued to grow their management structures over the last ten years, with nearly 19,000 people employed across both organisations. By itself, the DHSC had increased in size by more than 50 per cent in the past 10 years alone. Yet, despite this increase, a report by the National Audit Office concluded that it is difficult to know if it is on track to achieve it’s objectives without putting additional pressure on local authorities and ultimately social care providers.

While accountability is important, the report notes that the proliferation of regulatory type organisations means too many resources are spent on oversight rather than care delivery. Currently, regulatory organisations employ some 7,000 staff, equating to nearly 80 regulatory staff per NHS provider trust.

“Instead of excessive oversight that has failed to deliver, the focus should be on frontline care for individuals and communities,” said Martin. “We need to streamline, remove barriers, and prioritise real solutions – not layers of ineffective bureaucratic regulation.”

While long-term reforms are critical, the immediate crisis cannot wait. Social care and NHS services are intertwined, and as highlighted by the report, swift action and collaboration between ministers, the NHS, and social care providers is essential to bring about meaningful change.

The report acknowledged that the NHS more resources than ever before, with this year’s budget totalling £165 billion, meaning the resources exist to begin addressing these issues. However, strong leadership and full commitment are essential to achieve the much-needed change.

Martin concluded:

“With unprecedented transparency in the analysis provided in today’s report, the path forward is clearer than ever. If the government and its departments can work at this speed to produce such comprehensive data, they can certainly accelerate the changes we urgently need for social care. Now is the time for bold decisions and meaningful action.”