The latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) report on The State of Health Care and Adult Social Care in England (2023/24) highlights significant concerns and areas where care must improve to meet the needs of children and young people. This summary, with an emphasis on rural areas, highlights the significant concerns and areas where care must improve to meet the diverse needs of all age groups, including the unique challenges faced by children and young people.

Primary and Community Care in Rural Settings

The CQC report reveals a troubling trend in rural health care access. In 2023/24, the number of people waiting more than two weeks for a GP appointment increased by 18%, affecting primarily rural communities. The 10 integrated care system areas with the highest proportions of patients waiting over two weeks for a GP appointment were predominantly in rural areas, with half of these in the South West. This strain reflects broader national trends where demand for GP services has surged, yet the capacity to deliver timely care remains insufficient, especially in less urbanized regions.

Adult Social Care in Rural Communities

Similarly, adult social care services in rural areas are under pressure, with an increasing number of individuals requiring support but facing prolonged waits for services such as care home placements and homecare.

In April 2024, waits for care home beds and home-based care accounted for 45% of delays in discharging people who had been in an acute hospital for 14 days or more, with nearly 4,000 people delayed on an average day. This often results in extended hospital stays, which complicates patient flow and care continuity, particularly acute in rural settings where resources are typically more stretched.

Mental Health Services in Rural Areas

The availability of mental health services remains critically constrained in rural England. In 2023, 1 in 5 children and young people between the ages of 8 and 25 were estimated to have a mental health disorder. Rural youth face significant barriers to accessing necessary mental health support, underscoring a critical gap in timely interventions, which, if unaddressed, risk long-term implications for their health and well-being.

Urgent Call for Action

The findings of this report serve as a call to action for enhanced support and resource allocation to rural health and social care services. Without targeted improvements and strategic planning, disparities in care quality and accessibility are likely to continue widening, particularly affecting vulnerable populations in rural England.

For a deeper understanding of the CQC's findings and the specific challenges faced by health and social care services in rural areas, readers can access the full CQC report here and the easy read version here.

In conclusion, the CQC's 2023/24 report lays bare the urgent needs within England's health and social care sectors, highlighting the necessity for immediate and sustained action to ensure no rural community is left behind in accessing high-quality care.

Kerry Booth, Chief Executive, Rural Services Network "The CQC's latest report lays bare the stark realities and growing disparities in healthcare access across rural England. As our rural populations age and their needs become more complex, the urgency to address these challenges cannot be overstated. The RSN’s 'Delivering for Rural' campaign specifically calls for strategic, community-focused solutions that ensure no one in our rural areas is left behind. We are advocating for improved transport links to healthcare facilities, enhanced local care services that reduce the need for long-distance travel, and greater investment in digital health technologies that can bridge the gap for isolated communities. It’s essential that these solutions not only match the unique landscape of rural healthcare but are also integrated into the broader national health policy framework".