NHS failing to tackle spiraling children’s surgery waiting lists as backlog hits record levels

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. One NHS leader warned that the long waits would be likely to affect some children’s “ability to lead full and active lives” and worsen existing inequalities between adult and children’s care. Local systems and providers have made huge efforts to restore paediatric elective services, however, activity largely remains below pre-pandemic levels.” open image in gallery New figures show the NHS is failing to hit waiting list targets It said national internal data shows that “the pace of recovery of paediatric services has not kept up with the level of adult elective care”. So there is a real concern over the lack of service provision for paediatrics.” “There’s a real concern that a lot of these organisations have just completely stopped and that will mean a real shortfall of paediatric services nationally.” In one letter sent in November by a specialist group of surgeons to hospitals in the West Midlands, trust leaders were warned over the “fragility” and “lack of prioritisation” of children’s surgery with some subspecialties “having broken down completely – both in terms of elective and emergency care”. Every child matters, so we will also train 5,000 more health visitors to give every child a healthy start to life.” A spokesperson for NHS England said trusts faced extraordinary challenges, including Covid and industrial action alongside “huge” demand, but have made good progress on reducing 18-month waits, which included “many” children.