Summary
Although the direct effects of Covid-19 on children and young people are usually milder than for older age groups, the pandemic’s effect on the overall health and care of the youngest generation has nonetheless been extensive. This analysis from the Nuffield Trust looks at the impact Covid-19 has had on healthcare for children and young people. The review has looked at both physical and mental health services and come to the same conclusion - support has been badly disrupted and the plight of children overlooked.
Content
Key findings
For physical health services it found:
- The proportion of under-16s with suspected cancer waiting more than two weeks to see a cancer doctor has nearly trebled to 16% since the pandemic started.
- The waiting list for planned treatments has risen by nearly a quarter in the past seven months alone.
- In a sign the physical health of children is deteriorating, urgent referrals to hospital by GPs has jumped by nearly half during the pandemic.
Demand for mental health services has also risen, with researchers saying lockdowns and the disruption caused to education and social activities have taken a huge toll.
The analysis highlighted:
- An 81% jump in referrals for child mental health services between April and September 2021, with growing numbers facing long waits.
- More than 15,000 crisis referrals during the same period, a 59% jump on the same period in 2019.
- A quadrupling in the number of under-19s waiting for treatment for eating disorders since the start of the pandemic, with more than 2,000 on the waiting list.
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