NHS Delays 'Risk Harming Thousands Of Children'

Delays to nearly 15,000 paediatric operations in 2022 prompts warning

- Andrew Gregory

Thousands of children experiencing long waits for NHS treatment face a “lifelong” impact on their health, a senior doctor has warned, as shocking figures reveal nearly 15,000 paediatric operations were postponed last year.

Dr Camilla Kingdon, the president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health , said the mounting treatment backlog in England risked “serious” and “devastating” physical and mental consequences for children and their families.

She sounded the alarm as data obtained under freedom of information laws by the Liberal Democrats showed a record 14,628 children’s operations were postponed in 2022, up from 11,870 the year before and the highest in five years of data examined. Some children have now waited several years for surgery, according to the data.

The figures emerged as the NHS brace d itself for yet more disruption next week, with thousands of junior doctors due to go on strike, meaning yet more children – and adults – face having vital treatment and operations put on hold again.

Many of the children’s operations were postponed because of a shortage of staff or bed space, the data reveals, a problem the government has been warned about by health leaders for years. The findings will pile pressure on ministers to tackle the workforce crisis and finally resolve the pay row with junior doctors.

Delaying a child’s operation risks having a “lifelong impact” on their development, according to Kingdon , and also “seriously impact” their mental health, with knock-on effects on their ability to socialise, go to school and reach their potential.