Scandal of 10,000 children waiting in NHS queues trends now

Scandal of 10,000 children waiting in NHS queues trends now

Scots doctors warn of ‘catastrophic’ waits for treatment as number of child patients doubles 

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More than 10,000 ­children in Scotland are stuck on ‘catastrophic’ NHS waiting lists, ­doctors have warned.

Nearly one in two youngsters on the lists are waiting for 12 weeks or more to see a consultant or to receive treatment.

Doctors say some families forced to wait months end up bringing their children into already overwhelmed A&E departments instead.

There are concerns that long waiting times can lead to ‘irreversible’ consequences for children.

A damning report by the Royal ­College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said waiting lists for youngsters doubled in size in a decade. Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: ‘This deeply concerning report shows how young patients are being repeatedly let down by the SNP.

‘Successive health secretaries have failed to act and waiting times at children’s hospitals have spiralled over the last decade as a result.

Medics have issues a warning over the number of children waiting for treatment in Scotland

Medics have issues a warning over the number of children waiting for treatment in Scotland

‘That will alarm any parent who wants to know that their child will not be suffering excess delays in Scotland’s NHS. The SNP needs to get an urgent grip of this and ensure resources are in place to avoid young patients suffering longer and longer waits.’

The RCPCH report found the number of children waiting for their first out­patient appointment rose from 4,898 to 10,512 between October 2012 and ­September 2023. These include appointments for a range of NHS specialities except mental health, cardiology and ear, nose and throat.

The percentage of children waiting longer than 12 weeks for their first outpatient appointment rose from 1 per cent of all cases in 2012 to 48.9 per cent last year. That equates to 5,137

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