A recent report by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) highlights a critical situation in community health care, revealing that nearly 315,000 children in the UK are facing 'catastrophic' waiting times.

The report recommends establishing a maximum waiting time target of 18 weeks for children's services and addressing the funding gap between child and adult healthcare.

Dr. Douglas Simkiss from the British Association for Community Child Health emphasizes the importance of improving community children's services and the positive impact of implementing the report's recommendations.

The number of children and young people on waiting lists for community health services has surged from 272,625 in March 2024 to 314,432 in March 2025, indicating a significant backlog.

Currently, only 50% of children are seen within 18 weeks, a stark contrast to 86% of adults, underscoring serious issues in the timeliness of care for children.

The RCPCH report describes the current state of children's community services as 'unsustainable' and calls for urgent reforms to address these pressing issues.

As part of a recovery plan, the RCPCH is advocating for immediate action to manage long waiting times before transitioning care from hospitals to community settings.

Experts are stressing the need for urgent reforms in children's community services to tackle the growing waitlists and enhance care delivery.

Dr. Ronny Cheung from the RCPCH warns that prolonged waiting times can lead to delayed schooling, social limitations, and increased mental health issues for children.

A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledges the challenges of long waits for children and emphasizes the government's commitment to transforming community care, particularly for mental health services.

Critics argue that government plans to shift care from hospitals to the community are misguided if they do not first address the growing waiting lists for children.

Dr. Simkiss advocates for the implementation of the report's recommendations to enhance the healthcare experience for children and their families.