The Care Quality Commission’s annual state of care report has identified a significant crisis in children’s healthcare access across England, with waiting times reaching historically elevated levels even as some adult services show improvement. According to the assessment, children and young people are experiencing the most severe impact from mounting demand and workforce shortages within the NHS.
Community health services are particularly affected, with 80,000 children and young people awaiting appointments for longer than a year—a figure representing nearly 11 times the comparable number of adults in similar circumstances. Medical professionals characterized this situation as unacceptable, noting that prolonged delays are allowing childhood health conditions to deteriorate and become increasingly difficult to treat. The report also documented declining numbers of health visitors and school nurses despite rising demand for their services.
While the broader health and social care system demonstrated certain positive developments—including expanded GP availability, enhanced digital service options, and reduced waits for planned procedures—these improvements have not matched the pace of growing healthcare demand. Specific concerns highlighted in the assessment included regional disparities in childhood hospital admissions for conditions such as diabetes and asthma, as well as notable variations in dental health outcomes among children across different areas.
The CQC emphasized that significant inequalities persist throughout the entire system, with access to services, care quality, and patient outcomes heavily dependent on geographic location and demographic factors. Cancer patients, both adult and pediatric, continued to face extended treatment delays, while emergency care services remained under sustained pressure. The report identified this variation as “unwarranted” and called for a coordinated response to address systemic fragmentation.
Government officials acknowledged the report’s findings while pointing to inherited challenges from the previous administration. They indicated commitment to addressing specific areas including emergency department overcrowding, maternal and child support services, and a proposed new national care infrastructure.
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