England’s ‘complex’ health and care system harming patients, report says

Navigating England’s “complex” health and care system is “extremely difficult” and carers and patients are experiencing burnout, distress and harm as a result, a damning report says.There were frequent failures by NHS and care organisations in coordinating care for people with long-term health conditions, the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) found. Figures show 41% of adults and 17% of children have at least one long-term health issue.The report said patients unable to navigate the health and care system were getting sicker as a result, missing vital appointments, and their care could be delayed or forgotten about, meaning they may need more intensive and expensive treatment in future or longer stays in hospital.Patients and carers had to retell their health history to different health and care providers, the research showed. The system was not joined up and information did not flow well across health and care organisations, patients and carers told the investigators....