Wales children's services now 'unsustainable' as waiting lists see massive increase

Community child health services provide care for children in their communities rather than hospitals and also include areas such as mental health and additional learning needs.

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Staff include paediatricians, health visitors, continence nurses, dietitians, speech and language therapists and psychologists. They assess safeguarding and help support children with complex medical needs.

They work in clinics, schools and community hubs with a focus on long-term care.

Teachers have reported some children arriving at school still in nappies, as well as unable to do things like use cutlery or tie laces and not having “met milestones”.

The report says these delays have an impact beyond health and often impact children's social development and school attendance as well as their future economic contribution and requirements from adult NHS services.

One doctor said: “The long waiting times even for initial assessments and longer for diagnosis are having a significant impact. Resources are being spent on diagnostics, but not much resources are going into support services after diagnosis.”

Paediatricians said the situation is unsustainable.

The RCPCH is demanding that the Welsh Government “delivers its long-standing ambition of care closer to home” by putting the money needed into early-years support and ensuring adequate staffing across community paediatrics, speech and language therapy, and mental health.