Tens of thousands of children across England are waiting more than a year for essential NHS community services such as speech and language therapy, hearing support and disability care, raising serious concerns about long-term damage to their health and development.
Latest analysis shows around 300,000 under-18s are currently on community health waiting lists, with one in four having waited longer than 12 months. Doctors and NHS leaders warn the delays are “catastrophic” and say children’s services must be given the same urgency as hospital waiting lists.
Growing backlog in children’s services
Figures reveal that since early 2023 the number of children waiting more than a year has increased sixfold, with more than 77,500 now facing extreme delays. By comparison, only around 1% of adults experience waits of this length for community care, while 26% of children do.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) says similar pressures are being reported in other parts of the UK, pointing to a national shortage of therapists, clinicians and specialist support.
Families forced to go private
Parents describe exhausting struggles to secure help. In London, mother-of-two Tiya Currie waited more than two years for her son Arun to access speech and language services, eventually spending £4,000 on private assessments and therapy.
Arun was later diagnosed with developmental language disorder, a condition that can severely affect learning and communication if not treated early. His mother said the delays caused unnecessary stress and risked long-term consequences, adding that early intervention is critical while children’s brains are still developing.
Developmental harm from long waits
Specialist clinicians say delays in hearing tests, autism and ADHD assessments, speech therapy and disability support can permanently affect education, mental health and social development.
Elliot Howard-Jones, who represents community NHS providers, warned that children who miss early treatment can fall behind their peers and may never fully catch up. He said community care should be prioritised in the same way as cancer and hospital treatment backlogs.
Underinvestment and workforce shortages
NHS leaders blame chronic underfunding and staff shortages for the growing crisis. Richard Kirby of NHS Providers said demand now far exceeds capacity, while RCPCH clinicians warned that many treatments must be delivered at specific developmental stages to prevent lifelong complications.
Disability charities have also highlighted the financial burden on families who are increasingly paying for private therapy due to lack of NHS access.
Government response and future plans
The Department of Health and Social Care has acknowledged the situation is unacceptable and confirmed a new national target for community services to see patients within 18 weeks, aligning with hospital standards.
Ministers say the government’s 10-year NHS plan will increase investment in neighbourhood health services, expand the workforce and improve early years support, with a focus on bringing care closer to children and families.