Liz Kendall MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Care and Older People, responding to the Care Quality Commission’s ‘The state of health care and adult social care’ report published this morning, said:

“This report shows the full scale of David Cameron’s care crisis.

“Avoidable emergency admissions to hospital for the over-65s have topped half a million for the first time, and are rising faster than the increase in the ageing population.

“This is terrible for older people, and putting huge extra pressure on already struggling A&Es.

“It is also an appalling waste of taxpayers money, costing around a billion pounds a year.

“Instead of spending three years forcing through a costly and damaging backroom NHS reorganisation, the Prime Minister should have been focused on reforming frontline services, helping older people stay healthy and living independently at home.

Labour’s plans to integrate NHS and social care services, and to provide “whole person” care, are vital to tackling the consequences of Cameron’s care crisis.”