Care watchdog issues dire NHS warning despite Javid claiming service can cope

England’s NHS and care services face a “tsunami of unmet need”, the health watchdog has warned, despite ministers insisting that hospitals are coping with the huge surge in demand. The alarm was raised as the number of daily coronavirus infections hit 50,000 for the first time since the end of lockdown amid fears the NHS is heading into a serious winter crisis.

- SHAUN LINTERN

The Care Quality Commission’s chief executive, Ian Trenholm, said NHS and care staff “cannot be expected to work any harder than they already are if we’re to get safely through this winter”. “What we’re seeing is many services are at capacity, and in many cases beyond capacity, and problems that traditionally could have been diverted can no longer be diverted,” he said.

Organisations needed to come together and work differently, he warned: “If these things don't happen there is the genuine risk of a tsunami of unmet need with many people not getting the care that they so desperately need this winter.” The CQC’s stark picture stands in contrast to assurances from the government that the system can cope.

Health secretary Sajid Javid and health minister Edward Argar have both dismissed concerns the NHS is facing unsustainable pressure – “plan B” of Covid measures will only be enacted after this point – despite ambulances queueing outside hospitals and some patients waiting almost 50 hours for a bed.