NHS trusts struggling to cope with demand for children's support, study finds

The findings from NHS Providers’ survey highlighted that “children and young people risk becoming a forgotten generation”, as 90% of trusts say children’s health and wellbeing is not high enough a national priority.

There is a widening health inequalities gap, according to the report, with increased waiting times for essential services including health visiting, speech and language therapy and hearing tests.

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Some 97% of respondents to the survey said the level of demand their trust is facing for children and young people’s services had increased compared to pre-pandemic levels, with one trust reporting that waiting times for children's autism assessments had increased from around 14 months pre-pandemic to 38 months now.

NHS providers are calling for a cross-government plan to improve the wellbeing of children and young people, including more investment in early intervention and preventing ill health through a public health grant. According to the report, this would align with similar recommendations made by the Children’s Commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza. A cross-government childhood strategy overseen by a government Department for Children was also called for by sector figures in February.

Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive, NHS Providers, said: “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.

“Our survey shows NHS leaders are committed to providing safe and timely care for children and young people, but they need the right support. Trusts are ready to play their part in making things better for children and young people. It will require concerted, joined-up working between trusts, government, NHS England and local partners including councils, schools and the voluntary sector.”

Almost 90% of respondents were concerned about the impact on staff morale of the challenges of providing care and said the health and wellbeing of children isn’t considered enough in national policy.

This comes as the Labour Party has pledged to build upon health visiting by “allowing health visitors to administer routine immunisations to vulnerable and at-risk children” after its landslide win in the general election.