NMC responds to CQC State of Care report 2026

Responding to the report, Chris Dzikiti, Executive Director of Professional Practice at the NMC, said:

“The CQC’s latest report is a stark reminder of the pressures facing health and social care services, with many people struggling to access the vital care they need.

“The report highlights the challenges of a changing and increasingly fragmented adult social care sector, where access to and the quality of care can vary, alongside ongoing workforce pressures including the decline in international recruitment.

“This reinforces the need for a sustainable nursing workforce to meet the complex and evolving needs of the nation. Social care nursing is a lifeline for people and communities, and we need to encourage more people to consider it as a rewarding career, while ensuring nurses feel valued and supported to remain in the sector. The Health and Social Care Secretary’s commitment to a social care workforce plan is an opportunity to address these challenges.

“Today’s findings are also a reminder of the unacceptable racial disparities that persist in maternity, with Black women continuing to experience the highest rates of maternal readmission. It is the responsibility of the whole system to tackle these inequalities, ensure women are listened to, and turn learning from national reviews into meaningful, lasting change. Every woman, baby and family deserves safe, equitable and compassionate maternity care.”

Other recent news…