About 80,000 children and young people in England are waiting more than a year for community health support, according to findings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) reported on 23 October 2026. The figure is almost 11 times the number of adults waiting more than a year for this broad category of care.
The warning puts community paediatrics, speech and language therapy, health visiting and school nursing back in the spotlight. These services can identify concerns early, support children with complex needs and help families before problems become harder to manage.
What the latest findings show
The CQC’s State of Care findings describe a mixed picture across England. Some adult services have improved, including GP access and elective care, and digital tools are being used more widely. However, the regulator says progress is not keeping pace with rising demand and increasingly complex needs.
Children’s services remain under particular pressure. The report highlights long waits and continuing declines in the numbers of health visitors and school nurses. It also points to regional variation in hospital admissions for asthma and diabetes, alongside uneven levels of children’s dental health.
Why early support matters
Community services can provide assessments, developmental support and help coordinating care between health professionals and schools. Delays may leave families without answers for months and can mean children struggle at home or in the classroom. Paediatric specialists have warned that late support can mean missed opportunities to improve health and development.
Staffing and local gaps
The findings suggest demand is rising faster than services can respond. Health visitors and school nurses can help identify concerns early, so falling numbers may make consistent support harder to deliver. The CQC also describes variation between areas, meaning families with similar needs can have very different experiences depending on where they live.
Recruitment and training remain part of the wider public-service debate. SeaIsleNews has previously covered UK employers’ apprenticeship pledges.
What families can do while waiting
Families can contact the service handling a referral to ask for an update and check that contact details are correct. If a child’s symptoms or circumstances change, tell the GP or clinical team so their needs can be reviewed. Parents can also ask a school SENCO, health visitor or existing support worker what help may be available while an assessment is pending.
For urgent medical advice, NHS 111 can help people find appropriate care. Anyone facing a life-threatening emergency should call 999.
What happens next?
The Department of Health and Social Care has acknowledged the scale of the challenge and pointed to plans to improve access and strengthen support for mothers and children. The key test will be whether improvements reach children waiting for community appointments, not only services where waiting times are already falling.
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