Thousands of children’s lives are being blighted by shocking delays to NHS care of up to three years, according to a report that warns a “forgotten generation” will suffer long-term harm as a result.
The health service is struggling to cope with rapidly rising demand for increasingly complex and acute care needs among children and young people, the research by NHS Providers shows.
Health leaders say the crisis in England is so severe that there is now “deep concern” that lifelong, permanent harm is being caused by crippling delays to NHS care. Long waits for basic healthcare are derailing children’s development, educational attainment and mental health, they revealed.
One trust reported that waiting times for children’s autism assessments had risen from about 14 months before the Covid-19 pandemic to 38 months today. Children are also being forced to wait too long for essential speech and language therapy, hearing tests, medical treatment and surgery.
The report by NHS Providers, which represents hospital, community, mental health and ambulance trusts in England, says 82% of trusts it surveyed were unable to meet the current demand for children’s and young people’s services.
“Too many young lives are being blighted by delays to accessing vital NHS care,” said Sir Julian Hartley, the chief executive of NHS Providers. “We’re in danger of seeing a forgotten generation of young people.”
The study follows a series of reports in the Guardian exposing the child health crisis in England.
In February, this newspaper revealed how the number of children referred to emergency mental healthcare had risen by more than 50% in three years.
The increase meant that more than 600 mentally ill children a week were deteriorating to such a state that they had reached crisis point, according to a review of NHS figures by the Guardian.
In June, this newspaper disclosed how children were getting shorter, fatter and sicker amid an epidemic of poor diets, food insecurity and poverty, with millions facing a “timebomb” of avoidable health conditions.
That came after the Guardian exposed how Conservative ministers were warned they were putting children at lifelong risk of ill health by shelving policies to tackle obesity and junk food until 2025 – but pressed ahead anyway.
The new report by NHS Providers includes 134 responses from leaders at 95 trusts. Almost all (97%) said the current level of demand for children’s and young people’s services had increased compared with before the pandemic.
Of those surveyed, 86% said waiting times to access an initial assessment had risen. The key challenges were the growing complexity of children’s health conditions, the severity of those conditions, and insufficient services being commissioned, they said.
A shortage of staff was also highlighted as a major barrier to treating youngsters. Trusts said not being able to provide adequate care also affected staff morale and contributed to widening health inequalities.
Most long-term health conditions develop during childhood, the report said. For example, 75% of mental health problems occur before the age of 24.
“Intervening during this period is therefore critical to improving children and young people’s health outcomes both now, in the present, and into the future, ensuring a healthy and thriving society and population in the long term,” the study said.
Hartley added: “Long waits for services have far-reaching implications for a child’s social development, school readiness and educational attainment.
“Preventing ill health among children and young people is central to ensuring the next generation are able to live well, thrive and contribute to society and the economy.”
NHS leaders need more support to deliver safe and timely healthcare to children, he said.
“That means a cast-iron commitment from the new government and NHS England that the physical and mental health of children and young people will be a priority, with the right amount and mix of NHS staff to give them the care they need.”
Patricia Marquis, the executive director of the Royal College of Nursing in England, said the crisis required “urgent intervention”.
“When NHS leaders say staff shortages are preventing them from delivering services to children – it is time for action,” she added.
David Fothergill, of the Local Government Association, said it was worrying to see so many children were “not receiving the timely care they need,” particularly because of the potential “long-lasting effects” on their future health and development.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “It is unacceptable that too many children and young people are not receiving the care they deserve, and we know that waits for services are far too long. We are determined to change that.”
