Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the quality of care for the elderly in care homes.

The quality and safety of care provided in care homes is monitored and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – the independent regulator for health and social care in England. Inspection reports on individual providers are made publicly available, and the CQC publishes annual data in their State of Care report.

The most recent report (20 October 2023) showed 83% of residential care homes being rated as good or outstanding, and 79% of nursing care homes being rated as good or outstanding. For most people therefore, the experience of adult social care and support is positive.

The Government is looking to further improve the quality of care, including for the over 65 year olds in care homes, by transforming how we hold local authorities to account for the care they commission. The new duty for CQC to assess how local authorities are delivering their Care Act duties has begun and will identify where further support is needed.