Long waits in child mental health are a “ticking time bomb” regulator warns

Underfunding and a shortage of staff are creating long waits for children and young people in accessing essential mental health treatment in England, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has warned.

The regulator’s latest annual report on healthcare providers’ compliance with the Mental Health Act 19831 notes that the number of children and young people waiting to access or undergoing mental health treatment hit a record high of 496 897 in November 2023. Two months later the figure had increased by almost 20 000, with an average wait of 40 days from referral to treatment.

Chris Dzikiti, CQC director of mental health, said, “Half a million children are receiving or waiting for mental healthcare and are having to wait on average 40 days to access care, but often much …