Paediatricians insist Holyrood election must be 'turning point' for child health

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said demand for services is rising drastically

More than 200 paediatricians have signed an open letter to Scotland’s political leaders sounding the alarm over the declining state of child health and calling for urgent action to address the “stark realities” facing children and families.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said demand is rising drastically and already stretched services are feeling the pressure, with the situation now “impossible to ignore”.

It said the Holyrood election on May 7 must be a “turning point”.

A total of 230 members signed the RCPCH’s letter, which called for “greater and sustained investment”, support to expand and retain the workforce, and action to reduce child poverty.

Concerns have been raised about the declining state of child health across Scotland | PA

The letter said: “Action must go beyond reducing waiting times. We need a commitment to child-centred, community-based services that prioritise the health, wellbeing and lived experiences of children and young people.

“This must include bold action to reduce child poverty, which underpins so many of the health inequalities paediatricians see every day.

“Without a well-supported, adequately resourced workforce, services cannot meet growing demand or provide the early, specialist care children need to thrive.”

The letter stressed next month’s election was an “opportunity to move beyond short-term fixes and commit to a bold, long-term vision: one where every child receives timely, compassionate and high-quality care”.

It added: “Children and young people deserve better. Families deserve better. And the paediatric workforce needs the resources and support to deliver the care they require.”

The RCPCH said referrals to mental health services are rising. In the quarter ending December 2025, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services received 8,841 referrals, up 17.6 per cent on the previous quarter.

Figures from Public Health Scotland show 40 per cent of children are waiting more than 12 weeks for outpatient appointments.

For many, the RCPCH said, these delays mean missing critical developmental windows for treatment and intervention, which can lead to irreversible harm, widening health inequalities, and increasing long‑term pressure on already stretched services.

Dr Lynn Macleod, RCPCH’s officer for Scotland, said: “The level of demand for children’s health services is rising drastically, and our already stretched services are feeling the pressure.

“The situation for children’s health services and its workforce is now impossible to ignore. Scotland needs long‑term planning for child health that prioritises prevention, responsive care and a well-supported workforce.

“It’s really encouraging that 230 paediatricians from across Scotland have signed our calls to Scotland’s political parties.

“As we now look ahead to the election, our message is simple: children cannot wait. We hope all political parties will recognise the urgency and work with us to make Scotland the best possible place to grow up.”

Public health minister Jenni Minto said Scotland was the only country in the UK where child poverty is falling.

She said: “In government, the SNP will always prioritise giving children the best start in life – the baby box and the Scottish child payment are prime examples of the fairer, healthier nation we are seeking to build.

“Investing in and protecting our children’s mental health is a key part of that priority, with our overall mental health budget set to exceed £1.5 billion this year.

“The SNP Government has met our Camhs target for over a year and we are ensuring funding for counselling services throughout schools across Scotland – that’s what you get from an SNP Government on Scotland’s side.

“That SNP leadership has also led to Scotland being the only country in the UK where child poverty is falling – all the evidence shows that eradicating child poverty in Scotland is the best policy to improve health outcomes.”

But Scottish Conservative health spokesperson Dr Sandesh Gulhane, a practicing GP, said: “On the SNP’s watch, children’s health services are under immense strain.

“Far too many children are waiting over twelve weeks for hospital appointments, while it’s next to impossible for young people experiencing a mental health crisis to see a CAMHS specialist.

“We know these delays mean missing critical windows for treatment and intervention, causing long-term harm for children.”

The plea from paediatricians came as Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie accused the SNP of having “failed to take children’s health seriously”.

She said that under the SNP children’s mental health waiting lists were “out of control” and child poverty levels “remain shamefully high”.

The Scottish Labour deputy leader added: “Too many young people face painfully long waits for treatment at Camhs while thousands are turned away altogether.

“It is scandalous that children and young people are being failed in this way, but John Swinney and the SNP have more excuses than answers.

“A Scottish Labour government will tackle the root cause of child poverty in Scotland, supporting families into well-paid work through reforming our skills landscape and saving families money on childcare.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said “too many” children and young people were waiting “what must feel like a lifetime for the mental health care they desperately need”.

He added: “The pandemic led to a huge surge in demand for neurodevelopmental diagnoses, but the SNP have completely failed to meet the scale of the challenge.”