Two reasons for long NHS waiting lists — and weight loss jab demand is partly to blame
Autism assessments and weight loss jabs fuel rise in NHS waiting lists
- NHS community care waiting lists in England have significantly increased, with children's lists rising by 58 per cent since 2022, compared to 23 percent for adults.
- Over half of children on waiting lists require community paediatric services, including neurodevelopmental assessments for conditions such as autism and ADHD.
- Children face longer waits overall, with nearly one in four waiting over a year for crucial care like speech and language therapy.
- Adult waiting lists are largely for musculoskeletal services, but weight management services saw a 512 per cent increase, potentially linked to the demand for weight-loss drugs.
- The Nuffield Trust report highlights a disparity in NHS staffing, with community nurse numbers increasing by only 1 per cent since 2010, compared to significant growth in hospital nurses, exacerbating the strain on community services.