NMC respond to CQC state of care report 2022

The Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) has responded to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) annual assessment of health and social care over the past year in England.

NMC Chief Executive and Registrar Andrea Sutcliffe said the CQC’s 2022 State of Care report exposed the difficulties people experience in accessing safe, kind, and effective care, and the challenges health and care professionals are facing as they seek to provide it. 

She added: “It’s clear that workforce shortages are the root cause of these pressures. 

“There are more nursing and midwifery professionals than ever before on our register, but it’s still not enough to keep pace with the rising demand for care. 

“We need a long term, sustainable workforce plan that focuses on social care as well as the NHS given how critical the situation for nursing in social care has become. 

“Addressing these issues is vital for people living in the most vulnerable circumstances or those who cannot leave hospital because they don’t have sufficient support at home. 

“The focus on maternity services is just as important. Our Future Midwife standards support midwifery professionals to provide excellent person-centred care, but they cannot do this without adequate resources, fully functioning multi-disciplinary teams and the right leadership. 

“This is key to improving the experience and safe outcomes for women and their babies and tackling the unacceptable health inequalities that blight maternity services. 

“I know nurses, midwives and nursing associates are dedicated professionals who want to improve everyone’s health and wellbeing. But today’s report shows that too often, systemic challenges hold them back.”