A report from the RCPCH, which examined waiting time data between October 2012 and September 2023, found that pressures on paediatric staff and services have greatly increased over the past 11 years, leading to longer waiting times for children and young people.

Over the time period, the total number of paediatric waits – excluding surgical; ear, nose and throat; cardiology; and mental health – rose by 114.6 per cent despite a much smaller growth in the population.

The report’s authors state: “The challenges facing children and young people while on paediatric waiting lists are significant.

“Long waits for care are particularly harmful for children and young people as they can impair their mental and physical development at a critical time of life.”