The Care Quality Commission (CQC) reported that more than 80,000 children and young people in England were waiting over a year for community health care, while waits improved for most adult services.
Published Oct. 23, the CQC’s State of Care 2025/26 report said the number of children waiting that long rose 129% in the two years to March 2026. The tally was almost 11 times the adult figure.
The report said the average monthly number of children awaiting a first contact with mental health services climbed 31% between 2023/24 and 2025/26, from 237,590 to 311,070. Most waits longer than a year involved community pediatric services, including assessments for neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These services provide care outside hospitals for children with developmental conditions, disabilities and complex health needs.
In its review of NHS records through July 2026, The King’s Fund counted more than 320,000 children and young people on community health lists. It said 27% of this group had been waiting longer than a year.
NHS England’s 2024/25 performance report said demand for neurodevelopmental assessments was the main driver of growth in children’s waits beyond 52 weeks during that period. It also cited staffing gaps, challenges matching staff skills to services, commissioning and contracting problems, and inconsistent clinical pathways as wider factors in rising community waits.
The CQC said falling numbers of health visitors and school nurses, despite rising demand, undermined early identification of need and safeguarding. It also found a deprivation gap: tooth decay levels for children in the poorest communities were more than twice those in the least deprived areas.
The CQC said its joint inspections had found delays affecting children and their families. The King’s Fund said prolonged waits can hinder children’s development and put added pressure on families and schools. Baroness Julia Neuberger, chair of the CQC, said improvements “aren’t keeping pace with demand everywhere.”
NHS England’s plan sets a target for 78% of community health waits to be under 18 weeks by the end of 2026/27, rising to 80% by the end of 2028/29. Local systems are also expected to plan to eliminate waits longer than 52 weeks.
