NHS Faces Crisis as Social Care Shortfalls Hamper Hospital Productivity

Lord Darzi warns that without urgent social care reforms, NHS waiting lists and inefficiencies will persist.

Lord Darzi's report highlights that operating theatres remain underutilized due to bed shortages caused by patients awaiting social care discharge.
The NHS is experiencing a productivity decline despite a 17% increase in staff, attributed to inadequate resources and outdated technology.
An average of 12,340 hospital beds per day are occupied by patients ready for discharge, exacerbating the backlog of 7.6 million waiting for appointments.
The Labour government has yet to announce a comprehensive plan for social care reform, despite pledges to reduce NHS waiting lists.
Lord Darzi emphasizes that fixing the social care system is crucial for optimizing NHS spending and improving healthcare delivery.