Large numbers of children in England are waiting more than a year for NHS community health support, including speech and language therapy, hearing services and disability care, new analysis shows. Of the roughly 300,000 young people currently on waiting lists, around one in four have been waiting longer than 12 months, prompting warnings from clinicians that the delays are seriously damaging children’s development.

Doctors and NHS leaders say access to community services has deteriorated sharply in recent years. Since early 2023, the number of children waiting over a year has increased six-fold to more than 77,000. Long waits of this length are rare for adults, highlighting a growing gap in how services are accessed. Professionals argue that early intervention is vital for children and that delays can have lifelong consequences.

One parent, London-based Tiya Currie, described feeling “lost and overwhelmed” as she struggled to secure help for her son’s speech difficulties. After two years without NHS support, her family spent thousands of pounds on private assessments and therapy, which led to a diagnosis of developmental language disorder. While treatment has helped, she believes many families are left behind because they cannot afford to pay.

The government says the situation is unacceptable and has promised improvements through its 10-year NHS plan. Ministers say increased funding, more staff and a new target to see community patients within 18 weeks should improve access. However, health leaders warn that without urgent investment, children will continue to miss crucial opportunities for timely care.