Sharp rise in NHS waiting times putting child health at risk, report warns

CQC report finds 80,000 children in England waiting over a year for community healthcare

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published23 October 2026

Updated23 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources3 outlets

A new report from the Care Quality Commission reveals that children in England are bearing the brunt of some of the sharpest rises in NHS waiting times on record. More than 80,000 children have been waiting over a year for community health services, nearly 11 times the number of adults, as demand soars and staff numbers fall.

The annual state of care report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) highlights a stark contrast between improvements in some adult services and worsening delays for children. Health visitor and school nurse numbers continue to decline, and children with complex conditions, developmental disorders and safeguarding needs face the longest waits.

Dr Ronny Cheung of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health described the situation as “wholly unacceptable”, warning that children are missing crucial windows for treatment and development. He said families are being pushed to breaking point while conditions become more complex.

The report also identifies persistent inequalities across the health system, with “unwarranted variation” in access, quality and outcomes depending on where patients live. Alongside children’s waits, the CQC raised concerns about long delays for some adults with cancer starting treatment, and sustained pressure in urgent and emergency care. However, there were some signs of progress, including more GP appointments and shorter waits for elective care.

CQC chair Julia Neuberger said while some services are working well, improvements are not keeping pace with demand, calling for a collective response. The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the scale of the challenge, stating that the government inherited this situation in 2024 and is committed to going further to transform support for mothers and children and deliver a national care service.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Delays in treatment can worsen children's health and cause irreversible damage to development.
The report shows a system under strain, with inequalities that mean a child's postcode determines access to care.
Growing waiting times place additional pressure on families and other public services.

Background

The NHS has faced rising demand and staffing shortages across many areas. The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. Its annual report tracks performance across the system. Earlier inquiries have highlighted similar concerns, but the CQC's focus on children marks an urgent warning.

Key Perspectives

Children and their families: Face long waits for essential care, leading to worsening conditions and emotional strain. Health professionals: Paediatricians say the delays are unacceptable and that children are missing vital treatment opportunities. Government: Acknowledges the problem, attributing it to inherited pressures and pledging further reforms, including a new national care service.

What to Watch

Government's next steps in addressing community health waiting times for children.
Trends in health visitor and school nurse staffing levels.
Whether the government's promised national care service delivers improvements for children's health.

Sources

Child health in England at risk from sharp rise in NHS waiting times, report says · The Guardian
New report reveals alarming rise in healthcare waiting times for UK children · The Independent UK
Child health in England at risk from sharp rise in NHS waiting times, report says · The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe report warns that a sharp rise in NHS waiting times is putting child health at risk.UK news | The Guardian: “Child health in England at risk from sharp rise in NHS waiting times, report says.”
Partly supportedThe CQC report says 80,000 children in England are waiting over a year for community healthcare.UK news | The Guardian: “In community health services alone, 80,000 children and young people have been waiting more than a year for an appointment – almost 11 times the number of adults, the report said.”
Partly supportedMore than 80,000 children have been waiting over a year for community health services.UK news | The Guardian: “In community health services alone, 80,000 children and young people have been waiting more than a year for an appointment – almost 11 times the number of adults, the report said.”
SupportedThe number waiting more than a year is nearly 11 times the number of adults waiting that long.UK news | The Guardian: “80,000 children and young people have been waiting more than a year for an appointment – almost 11 times the number of adults”
SupportedChildren are facing the sharp waits amid soaring demand and falling staff numbers.UK news | The Guardian: “children and young people are being “hit hardest” amid soaring demand and falling numbers of staff”
SupportedDr Ronny Cheung described the situation as “wholly unacceptable”.UK news | The Guardian: ““Yet these children face some of the longest waits in the NHS , while waiting times for adult community services have improved. It is wholly unacceptable that more than one in four children still wait over a year for treatment”
Partly supportedCheung warned that children are missing crucial windows for treatment and development.UK news | The Guardian: “As a paediatrician, I am sick of seeing children wait so long for support that they miss crucial opportunities to improve their health and development.”
SupportedChildren with complex conditions, developmental disorders and safeguarding needs face some of the longest waits.UK news | The Guardian: “these children face some of the longest waits in the NHS”
Partly supportedThe CQC report identifies “unwarranted variation” in access, quality and outcomes, depending on where patients live.UK news | The Guardian: “Persistent inequalities across the entire health and care system mean people’s experience of care is fractured and heavily dependent on where they live and who they are, according to the report. Across all areas of the country and every part of the health and social care system, there was “unwarranted variation” in access to services, quality of care and outcomes, the CQC said.”
SupportedSome adults with cancer face long delays before starting treatment after diagnosis.UK news | The Guardian: “Some adults with cancer were waiting far too long to begin treatment after being diagnosed”
SupportedThe CQC reports sustained pressure in urgent and emergency care.UK news | The Guardian: “there remained “sustained pressure” in urgent and emergency care”
SupportedThe Department of Health and Social Care said the government inherited the challenge in 2024 and is committed to transforming support for mothers and children and delivering a national care service.UK news | The Guardian: “The Department of Health and Social Care said the report showed “the scale of the challenge this government inherited” when it was elected in 2024. “While the CQC recognises signs of progress on waiting lists, cancer care and general practice, patients and families rightly expect faster improvements – which is why the secretary of state has committed to go further to end corridor care, transform support for mothers and children, and deliver a new national care service,” a spokesperson added.”