Scarlett McNally: Improving our health will reduce the strain on social care
We’re stuck in a vicious cycle. Hospital beds are full. Over 12% of hospital inpatients no longer meet the criteria to be there.12 This has knock-on effects for emergency departments and leads to cancellation of elective operations. The costs of social care are unaffordable for many and are increasing massively.34 Adult social care accounts for half of some local councils’ revenue budgets,4 meaning that many are making drastic cuts in the things that keep people healthy45—such as swimming pools, play parks, and walkable streets. Being physically active reduces the need for social care,6 and a person’s fitness is the major determinant of how much care is needed.26 Yet our default model of healthcare creates passivity for patients. Many …
