Post-Pandemic NHS Demands Soar for Children and Young People: Health Leaders

More than four in five NHS trusts are struggling to meet the rising demand and complexity of needs among children and young people, according to a survey by NHS Providers. The membership organisation’s poll of 95 NHS trusts across England published on Monday found that almost all (97 percent) said demand for youth services—for children and young people aged up to 25—had increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. Health providers also said that waiting times for many services have gone up, with 86 percent of trusts saying overall waiting times to access an initial assessment had increased compared to before COVID-19. One trust said waits for children’s autism assessments had increased from 14 months pre-pandemic to 38 months now....