The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has completed a programme of targeted local system reviews in 20 local authority areas to assess how well services are working together to care for and support people aged 65 and over. The result report, Beyond barriers: how older people move between health and social care in England, summaries CQC’s findings from the reviews. This briefing sets out the report’s key findings and NHS Providers’ response to the report.

We welcome CQC’s system reviews and this report, which provides a valuable contribution to better understanding and improving system working. We recognise there is a need for legislative change in order to hold local systems to account for their performance. However, any plans for legislative change must be aligned with other developments currently happening at pace, including the new funding settlement and 10 year plan for the NHS. In addition, as responsibility and accountability for the provision of services remains with individual trusts, the regulators and national bodies must respect and support current and future institutional accountabilities.