A new Care Quality Commission (CQC) report finds that children and young people in England are bearing the brunt of growing strain on health and social care services, even as wait times for some adult services have shortened. The regulator's annual State of Care report highlights sharp increases in delays for community health appointments and mental health support among younger patients.
Community health waits widen dramatically
According to the CQC, more than 80,000 children and young people in England have waited over a year for a community health service appointment - almost 11 times the number of adults facing similarly long waits. While adult waiting times over a year have fallen, the number of children waiting that long rose by 129% in the two years to March 2026. Most of these delays involve community paediatric services, which support children with suspected neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and ADHD, as well as those with cerebral palsy, hearing or visual impairment, genetic conditions, and speech and language needs.
Dr Ronny Cheung of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said community child health services support "some of the most vulnerable children outside of hospital settings," adding that long waits leave children "struggling at school" and families "pushed to breaking point."
Mental health referral times double
The report also found that the average wait for a child's first contact with mental health services doubled, from 5.8 months in April 2023 to 12 months in March 2026. Over the same period, the number of children waiting for that first contact rose 31%, from a monthly average of 237,590 to 311,070. The CQC said such delays can have a "profound impact" on children and their families. The findings echo a separate review, led by Professor Peter Fonagy, which concluded that rises in childhood mental health problems are "real" and not explained solely by greater awareness, while also warning of a growing risk of misdiagnosis for conditions like ADHD and autism.
Workforce pressures and wider system strain
The CQC pointed to a continuing decline in health visitor and school nurse numbers despite rising demand, alongside a 50% increase in hospital admissions for bronchiolitis compared with a decade ago, though admissions have eased over the past two years. The report also flagged regional disparities in children's hospital admissions for diabetes and asthma, and higher rates of tooth decay among children in some areas. Beyond children's services, the CQC noted ongoing pressure in emergency care, cancer treatment delays, GP staffing gaps, and "persistent inequalities" tied to where people live.
CQC chairwoman Baroness Julia Neuberger said the system is under "real strain" despite pockets of improvement, including more GP appointments and shorter elective waits, warning that gains are not reaching everyone equally. The Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for comment.