A recent BBC investigation has highlighted a growing crisis in children’s NHS community services in England — including hearing services, speech and language therapy (SaLT), and disability support.
The BBC’s analysis found around 300,000 children were on waiting lists for NHS community care, and around a quarter have waited more than 12 months. The report also describes a sharp worsening over the last three years, with a six-fold rise in children waiting over a year since early 2023. NHS leaders and doctors have described the impact as “catastrophic”, warning that delays can harm children’s health, development, education and long-term outcomes.
For families, this is not just data. It’s day-to-day reality — repeated referrals, unclear timelines, and children going without the support they need at the stage they need it most.
“Waiting list after waiting list”
The BBC story shares the experience of a London parent who waited two years for NHS speech and language support for her son, before spending £4,000 privately to access therapy and a diagnosis. For many families, this is becoming an impossible choice: wait and watch needs escalate, or pay privately if they can — deepening inequality for those who cannot.
Why long waits are so harmful for children
When adults wait for services, it can be frustrating and painful. But when children wait, it can change the trajectory of their development.
Community services are not “optional extras”. They are essential building blocks that support communication, learning, emotional regulation, independence, and wellbeing. In practice, long waits can mean:
a child starting school without communication support, then falling behind quickly
sensory and physical needs going unmet, leading to distress and behaviour that is misunderstood
delayed intervention at the most effective developmental stages
pressure increasing on families, schools, and wider health and social care systems
Children can’t pause their development while waiting. Their peers move on — and the gap can widen.
Where autism and ADHD needs fit into the picture
Many children on community waiting lists have complex needs, and this often includes children who are neurodivergent or require neurodevelopmental support. Sometimes the wait is for an autism or ADHD assessment. Often, it’s also the wait for the wider support around that assessment — SaLT, OT, school guidance, and joined-up planning.
This is why early intervention matters. A diagnosis can be helpful, but what families need just as urgently is timely support and a clear pathway that leads to real-world strategies.
What needs to change
The government has acknowledged that long waits are unacceptable and has spoken about improving access through longer-term reforms and investment in community services.
But families need practical change now. That means:
more capacity in community teams and clinics
earlier intervention, not crisis-driven responses
joined-up pathways across health, education and social care
clear communication so families aren’t left in the dark
How Seven Care Services supports families and NHS systems
At Seven Care Services, we work alongside NHS partners to help reduce backlogs and improve access to high-quality, clinically robust neurodevelopmental pathways.
Our approach is focused on:
timely access to appointments
a structured pathway aligned to recognised clinical standards
clear communication with parents and referrers throughout the process
high-quality reporting with practical recommendations that schools and families can use
strong clinical governance to ensure consistency, safety and quality
We understand that behind every referral is a child who is still developing — and a family trying to navigate a system under significant strain.
Our NHS Right to Choose service
A key part of improving access is giving families more choice and reducing the need to wait years for support.
That’s why Seven Care Services supports NHS pathways through our Right to Choose (RTC) provision, helping eligible children and young people access timely autism diagnostic assessments via NHS funding when local waiting times are extensive.
Through Right to Choose, we aim to:
reduce time spent waiting for assessment
provide a clear, structured pathway from referral through to assessment, feedback, and report
deliver high-quality diagnostic reports with practical recommendations
work in partnership with NHS teams to ensure safe triage, clinical oversight and clear communication
Right to Choose is not about “skipping the system” — it’s about ensuring children can access the right clinical expertise within a reasonable timeframe, so support can start earlier and outcomes can improve.
A message to families
If you are currently waiting for support, you are not alone — and your concerns are valid. Children’s needs don’t disappear while they sit on a waiting list. Early support can make a lifelong difference.
And to system leaders: tackling long waits in children’s community services must be treated with the same urgency as hospital backlogs — because for children, waiting is not just inconvenient. It can be life-shaping.
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