HALF of Britain’s A&E units are failing to hit quality standards ahead of a winter onslaught.
Watchdogs warn the NHS is facing a “perfect storm” of increased demand and workforce challenges.
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The Care Quality Commission said a lack of access to GPs or social care adds to the problem.
Its Ofsted-style checks rated 52 per cent of emergency units as “inadequate” or “requiring improvement”.
Just four of 210 were found to be “outstanding”. In contrast, nearly all other key hospital measures improved.
The CQC’s Kate Terroni said: “People are struggling to get the right care at the right time in the right place.”
Its State of Care report analysed more than 32,000 hospital, ambulance trust, GP, care home and dentist inspections.
Hospitals should try to see 95 per cent of emergency patients within four hours — but the target has not been met in more than four years.
Dr Nick Scriven, of the Society for Acute Medicine, said the “sustained and repeated problems will reach a tipping point and care will be compromised”.
The CQC also said social care remains “fragile”, as well as highlighting a “serious deterioration” in care for those with mental health problems, learning disabilities and autism.
Ten per cent of in-patient services in those areas were rated “inadequate” — up from one per cent the previous year.
An NHS spokesman said: “It’s good to see the CQC saying hospitals, family doctors and mental health services continue to deliver good quality care”.
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