Latest news with #RCPCH
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Children are facing 'catastrophic' waits for community health care after the backlog surged to almost 315,000
Children are facing 'catastrophic' waits for community health care after the backlog surged to almost 315,000, doctors warn. Long waits can cause 'irreparable harm' and have 'lifelong impacts', according to the new report by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. It said the waiting list for children in need for care in the community is growing, with hold-ups facing kids to delay the age at which they start school, hampering their ability to socialise or play sport or harming their mental health. The authors called into question Government plans to shift care from hospitals into the community, saying that without 'urgent action' community waiting lists for children will 'continue to grow'. Community paediatricians care for children with a number of conditions including those with developmental disorders and disabilities; those with complex health needs, including end of life care; children who have neurodevelopmental disorders including autism and ADHD. They also see children where there are safeguarding concerns, who are 'looked after' or being adopted. The latest figures show that in March 2025 there were 314,432 children and young people waiting for community health services. This is compared to 272,625 in March 2024. The RCPCH said that children and young people are waiting significantly longer than adults to access community health services, with 22 per cent of those currently waiting for a year or more. Among the children currently on waiting lists, 67,725 had been waiting more than a year, and 15,240 children – or 5 per cent of all children on community waiting lists – had been waiting for more than two years. This compares to 1.3 per cent of adults are waiting for a year for community health services. And while 86 per cent of adults are seen within 18 weeks, only 50 per cent of children and young people are seen within the same timeframe. 'Average waiting times for community child health services are now some of the longest of any part of the health system,', the RCPCH report says. It describes the current state of children's community services is 'unsustainable', and adds; 'Children and young people (CYP) are waiting longer than adults to access healthcare in England. 'Paediatric services are not recovering at the same rates as adult services, and there is a growing gap between demand and capacity.' Addressing ministerial plans to bring care closer to home, the authors said: 'We urgently need transformational change in children's community services. 'The Government should urgently address the current long waiting times in community child health services as a core part of recovery plans, before progress can be made on a wider shift of care into the community.' Dr Ronny Cheung, officer for health services at the RCPCH, said: 'Lengthy waits are unacceptable for any patient but for children and young people the waits can be catastrophic, as many treatments need to be given by a specific age or developmental stage. 'Waits such as these can result in delayed starts to school, limitations on socialising, play sports, increased risk of poor mental health, behavioural problems and distress for both the child and their families. 'We want the NHS's 10-year plan to succeed, but we cannot shift care into the community while children are currently being left behind. 'Without urgent action, these waiting lists will continue to grow — and children will keep missing out on the vital care they need.' The report makes a series of recommendations, including: a waiting time target so children are all seen within a maximum of 18 weeks; work to address the 'investment gap' between children and adult services and efforts to improve the children's community health workforce. Dr Douglas Simkiss, chair of the British Association for Community Child Health, said: 'Community children's services are a vital but often overlooked component of the health care system. 'Implementing the recommendations in this report will have a tremendous positive impact for the children and families that rely on these services and the staff who work in them.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Too many children are not getting the care they need when they need it. 'This Government is committed to shifting care out of hospital and into the community: this is vital for children and their families, but it will take time. 'We are working to transform mental health services for children – hiring more staff and delivering more talking therapies – and putting mental health support in every school. 'We know more must be done and we are working with integrated care boards to understand the extent of the problem in each region so we can reduce waits for community health services.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Warning as children face ‘catastrophic' waits for care
A significant number of children are facing 'catastrophic' waits for care in the community, leading children's doctors have warned. A new report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) warns that long waits for care can cause 'irreparable harm' and 'lifelong impacts' in some cases. Experts from the college said the waiting list for children in need of care in the community is increasing as they warned that lengthy waits for children can result in delayed starts to school and limitations on children socialising and playing sports, as well as mental health problems. And the authors called into question Government plans to shift care from hospitals into the community, saying that without 'urgent action' community waiting lists for children will 'continue to grow'. Community paediatricians assess and manage a wide range of developmental, physical and social issues facing children. The latest figures show that in March 2025 there were 314,432 children and young people waiting for community health services. This is compared to 272,625 in March 2024. The RCPCH said that children and young people are waiting significantly longer than adults to access community health services, with 22% of those currently waiting for a year or more. Among the children currently on waiting lists, 67,725 had been waiting more than a year, and 15,240 children – or 5% of all children on community waiting lists – had been waiting for more than two years. This compares to 1.3% of adults are waiting for a year for community health services. And while 86% of adults are seen within 18 weeks, only half (50%) of children and young people are seen within the same timeframe. 'Average waiting times for community child health services are now some of the longest of any part of the health system,' according to an RCPCH report, seen by the PA news agency. The report says that the current state of children's community services is 'unsustainable'. 'Children and young people (CYP) are waiting longer than adults to access healthcare in England,' the authors add. 'Paediatric services are not recovering at the same rates as adult services, and there is a growing gap between demand and capacity.' Addressing ministerial plans to bring care closer to home, the authors said: 'We urgently need transformational change in children's community services. 'The Government should urgently address the current long waiting times in community child health services as a core part of recovery plans, before progress can be made on a wider shift of care into the community.' Community paediatricians care for children with a number of conditions including those with developmental disorders and disabilities; those with complex health needs, including end of life care; children who have neurodevelopmental disorders including autism and ADHD. They also see children where there are safeguarding concerns, who are 'looked after' or being adopted. Dr Ronny Cheung, officer for health services at the RCPCH, said: 'Lengthy waits are unacceptable for any patient but for children and young people the waits can be catastrophic, as many treatments need to be given by a specific age or developmental stage. 'Waits such as these can result in delayed starts to school, limitations on socialising, play sports, increased risk of poor mental health, behavioural problems and distress for both the child and their families. 'We want the NHS's 10-year plan to succeed, but we cannot shift care into the community while children are currently being left behind. 'Without urgent action, these waiting lists will continue to grow — and children will keep missing out on the vital care they need.' The report makes a series of recommendations, including: a waiting time target so children are all seen within a maximum of 18 weeks; work to address the 'investment gap' between children and adult services and efforts to improve the children's community health workforce. Commenting, Dr Douglas Simkiss, chair of the British Association for Community Child Health, said: 'Community children's services are a vital but often overlooked component of the health care system. 'Implementing the recommendations in this report will have a tremendous positive impact for the children and families that rely on these services and the staff who work in them.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Too many children are not getting the care they need when they need it. 'This Government is committed to shifting care out of hospital and into the community: this is vital for children and their families, but it will take time. 'We are working to transform mental health services for children – hiring more staff and delivering more talking therapies – and putting mental health support in every school. 'We know more must be done and we are working with integrated care boards to understand the extent of the problem in each region so we can reduce waits for community health services.'
STV News
15-05-2025
- Health
- STV News
Families let down by critical pressures in community paediatrics, report warns
Families are being let down by critical pressures in community paediatric services, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Scotland has warned. Its report calls for investment, data improvements and a sustainable community workforce to better support vulnerable children and families, citing a lack of reliable data and workforce shortages. The document, titled Collaborative Healthcare In Scotland: Delivering The Services Children Need In The community, cited major challenges including in neurodevelopmental services, warned health professionals 'are stretched thin', and noted a 'postcode lottery' for services. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) Scotland said community paediatricians play a vital role in safeguarding vulnerable children, co-ordinating complex care, and working alongside families and multi-agency partners, including conducting clinics in various settings and developing local health strategies. RCPCH officer for Scotland Dr Mairi Stark said: 'This report delves into the significant challenges faced by community child health services in delivering comprehensive care and support to children and their families. 'These challenges have been identified through feedback from our dedicated members. 'Our members have told us of long waiting lists and unsustainable demand for their services. 'Unlike our Worried and Waiting report, community paediatric data is not published for all health boards on Public Health Scotland. 'Despite submitting FOIs (freedom of information) to all health boards, we quickly uncovered a glaring inconsistency in data recording, preventing us from obtaining a clear picture of the need across Scotland. 'If we cannot grasp the full scale of the need, how can we possibly address it? 'Community paediatrics is essential for children with the most complex needs, yet it remains under-supported and under-resourced. 'Without better data, strategic investment, and a sustainable workforce, we risk failing the children who rely on us most. 'RCPCH Scotland is urging the Scottish Government and health boards to act decisively to protect and improve these vital services.' Michelle Wilson, head of children services at Children's Health Scotland, said: 'Children's Health Scotland is proud to have engaged with our health rights defenders to ensure that children and young people's lived experiences and priorities take centre stage in this essential new RCPCH Scotland report. 'Children and young people's insights, highlighted throughout this report, underscore the critical need for timely access to community child health services and collaborative care.' Nicola Killean, Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland, said: 'Children have the right to the best possible physical and mental health, and that means getting the support they need, when they need it. 'This powerful report highlights issues that children regularly raise with us and it's vital that their voices are not only listened to but are acted upon. 'Much more needs to be done to address the postcode lottery of community-based healthcare and regional disparities to ensure that there is equal access to the right support and professionals at the right time. 'There is a real need for more investment in child community health including in early intervention, and resources to tackle the unmet need in relation to neurodevelopmental services.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'We are committed to improving the quality of healthcare services for children and young people. We also recognise how crucial community based services are for children and their families throughout Scotland. 'We commend the RCPCH for putting the voices of young people front and centre of this report. We will consider the report's findings as we continue to work alongside NHS Boards and across government to improve the experiences of children everywhere.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What science says about smacking as government has 'no plans' for total ban
Calls to ban smacking and other forms of physical punishment against children in England have failed to receive government support. Earlier this month leading children's doctors urged the government to consider a complete ban on smacking in England, arguing there is no evidence it has any positive effect on children's wellbeing. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said "science doesn't back smacking children" and could put children at risk of "really significant physical harm". According to the Children Act 2004, it is unlawful to hit your child, except where it is "reasonable punishment", and this is judged on a case-by-case basis. But the College wants England to follow Wales, Scotland and other countries who have banned smacking and is encouraging an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill which would remove the "reasonable punishment" defence from law in England. However, education minister Stephen Morgan has responded to the calls explaining that while the UK government is "looking closely" at the legal changes made in Wales and Scotland, it has "no plans to legislate at this stage" for England. Mr Morgan added the Government wants to "look at the evidence" before taking such a "significant legislative step". While many people find the idea of physically punishing a child in any shape or form unacceptable, others take the view that, in certain circumstances, it can have a role to play in helping to shape children's future behaviour. "For generations, smacking was considered a standard way to discipline children," explains educational psychologist, Dr Patricia Britto. "Many adults today remember being smacked as kids and believe it helped them learn right from wrong. However, modern research, including neuroscience evidence, shows that smacking doesn't work the way people think. "Instead of improving behaviour it can make children more aggressive, harm their mental health, and even change the way their brains develop." Scientists have studied thousands of children to understand how smacking affects them in the long term. One recent study, from University College London (UCL) tracked over 8,000 children and found that those who were smacked at age three had more behaviour and emotional problems by the time they were teenagers. "The research also found that children who are physically punished are also at increased risk of being subjected to more severe violence," Dr Britto adds. There is also some scientific evidence that physical punishment could have a link to mental health problems. "The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health reports that children who experience physical punishment are nearly three times more likely to develop mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression," Dr Britto explains. While further research from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan, using data on more than 150,000 children over a 50-year period, also linked spanking to aggression, antisocial behaviour, mental health problems, cognitive difficulties, low self-esteem and other negative outcomes. Dr Britto says recent advances in neuroscience have given us even more insight into why smacking can be harmful to children. "Brain imaging studies show that children who experience physical punishment have changes in the areas of the brain responsible for decision-making, emotional regulation, and impulse control," she explains. "When a child is smacked, their brain activates the 'fight or flight' response. This releases cortisol, a hormone linked to stress. In small doses, cortisol helps us react to danger, but repeated exposure, like being smacked often, can change how the brain develops." High cortisol levels over time can shrink the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for problem-solving, impulse control, and reasoning. "This means children who are regularly smacked may struggle with emotional regulation, making them more likely to react aggressively or have difficulty managing frustration," Dr Britto adds. Harvard research shows that smacking alters a child's brain response in ways similar to severe maltreatment and increases the perception of threats, leading to lasting consequences. According to Fiona Yassin, family psychotherapist, and founder of The Wave Clinic while some parents may see smacking as a "quick-fix" solution, in reality it can have long-lasting consequences that carry through to adulthood. "If a parent has resorted to smacking, it's often because they feel they have lost control of the situation, she explains. "Smacking a child can give an adult a short term sense of power and release. However, it does not help the child to understand what they have done wrong and why they were hit - it simply instils fear in them." Whatever you views on smacking Yassin says there are some healthy ways parents can discipline their children. "Parents can teach children what's right from wrong with calm words and actions, and role model behaviours they would like to see in their children," she suggests. "It is helpful for children to have clear and consistent rules to follow and it's important these are delivered to the child in an age-appropriate way with clear language they can understand." Active listening is also incredibly important for parents: "Be open to questions from your child and hear them out when they want to be listened to," Yassin adds. It's also helpful for parents to understand that whilst they may think their child's behaviour is disruptive, it could be developmentally appropriate. "For example, a young child in a high-chair who throws food on the floor may not be intentionally disruptive, instead they may be exercising intrigue in food and wanting to explore different objects and textures," Yassin explains. Child protection groups argue that the science speaks for itself and suggest it is used to back a complete ban on smacking in England. And it seems there is support from many parents with research highlighting a shift in public opinion on the subject in recent years. A 2024 YouGov poll carried out on behalf of the NSPCC found that 71% of adults in England now believe smacking is unacceptable - up from 67% the year before. Younger parents are leading the change, moving away from physical punishment and choosing discipline methods backed by science. "As more parents turn to nonviolent discipline strategies, we are moving toward a future where children grow up feeling safe, supported, and emotionally healthy," Dr Britto concludes. "Teaching children right from wrong should come from guidance and understanding - not fear." Read more about parenting: The countries that have banned smacking children as doctors urge England to follow (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) 10 parenting styles to be aware of and what they actually mean (Yahoo Life UK, 8-min read) The truth about truancy as children lose 11.5 million days of learning (Yahoo Life UK, 11-min read)
Telegraph
06-03-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Make smacking children illegal, doctors urge
Smacking children is a 'Victorian' punishment that should be made illegal, doctors have urged. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said smacking put children at risk of 'really significant physical harm' and should be consigned to the history books. Medics urged those opposing a smacking ban to look at the scientific evidence which showed that smacking caused physical and emotional damage and 'doesn't benefit them in any way whatsoever'. Under the Children Act 2004, it is unlawful to hit your child, except where it is 'reasonable punishment', and this is judged on a case-by-case basis. Now the RCPCH is calling on parliamentarians to back an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would remove the 'reasonable punishment' defence from law in England. Prof Andrew Rowland, a consultant paediatrician and RCPCH officer for child protection, said: 'Now is the time for this Victorian-era punishment to go and the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill amendment will do that if passed.' Some 67 countries had already adopted smacking bans, with a further 20 committing to do so, he added. Prof Rowland said: 'It harms their physical health, places them at increased risk of serious physical assault, it harms their mental health and it harms their emotional health and their wellbeing – all of that is shown in robust scientific evidence.' He added: 'It's not a new law, it's just removal of a technical defence. First of all, prohibit a technical legal defence, remove that from legislation, and, secondly, engage with families in the lead-up to that becoming law.' He was keen to stress that the time for change is 'right now' as 'there is a real risk that there won't be time throughout the remainder of this Parliament to bring in the legislation that children need'. Call for immediate action Calls to introduce a smacking ban intensified after the death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, who was murdered in August 2023 after a two-year 'campaign of torture' at the hands of her father and stepmother. Asked about the case, Prof Rowland said: 'What happened to Sara was absolutely horrendous, and I can say that as a paediatrician, but also as a member of the public, that no child should suffer as Sara suffered.' He went on: 'So we know that physical punishment on a population basis does place children at risk of really significant physical harm. If we want to stop that, the first step has got to be to remove the defence of reasonable punishment. 'That will make it easier – easier for people like me as a paediatrician working in child protection services, for social workers, for police officers, to draw a line and say there are never any circumstances involved where physical punishment of children is ever legal.' A poll of 3,500 adults in England carried out by YouGov on behalf of the NSPCC, a children's charity, found that 71 per cent think smacking, hitting, slapping, or shaking a child is not acceptable. Jess Asato, Labour MP for Lowestoft, who tabled the amendment said: 'The health impact evidence of assault on children is clear, and that's why so many other countries, including Scotland and Wales, have now ensured that children have equal protection from assault and battery. 'Physical punishment is as outdated as it is harmful – and it's been long since time to put an end to it.'
