The care system is in crisis and staff now live with the risk their patients will come to harm, the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) annual report has revealed.

After years of under investment capacity has plummeted and only 2 in 5 people are able to leave hospital when they are ready.

Staff dissatisfaction and recruitment problems have led to ‘alarmingly high' vacancy rates and without action services will decline, the report has predicted.  

Chief executive of CQC, Ian Trenholm, said: ‘It's hard for health and care staff to deliver good care in a gridlocked system.

‘There are no quick fixes, but there are steps to be taken now on planning, investment and workforce that will help to avoid continuing deterioration in people's access to and experience of care.'

The chief inspector of adult social care, Kate Terroni, said recent investment from central government to stop bed blocking had helped, but she added: ‘There needs to be more focus on long-term planning and investment rather than short-term sticking plasters.

‘With 165,000 vacancies in adult social care, there needs to be a real step change in thinking about how to attract and retain staff, with better pay, rewards and training linked to career progression. If this doesn't happen, people will be at increased risk of harm.'

Care England chief executive Martin Green said: ‘This report paints a stark reality of the frontline. A gridlocked system, catalysed by a lack of funding and workforce pressures, prevents the system from operating efficiently and sustainably.'

He called for investment in the workforce and a renewed focus on ‘true integration'. He added: ‘This report is the latest in a long line of publications which present the need for immediate Government action to help tackle the ongoing workforce pressures. The can must not be kicked down the road any further; we need something to change, and we need this change now'.

Chairman of the Local Government Association's community wellbeing board, David Fothergill, said:  ‘There needs to be immediate investment to end this gridlock, address unmet and under-met need and allow all people to access the health and care services they need in a timely way.'