Research undertaken by the House of Commons Library has revealed that 336,886 children are sitting on mental health waiting lists – with the average time before being seen varying hugely across the country.
The figures were compiled using NHS data and cover January to March 2024. They show the average waits for children and young people to see a mental health professional after a referral from a GP.
The national average is 187 days, but the data reveals a postcode lottery of provision with some young people waiting well over a year while others are waiting under a month.
The longest waiting time is St Helens in Merseyside at 444 days, followed by Buckinghamshire (378 days), Coventry and Warwickshire (375 days), and Warrington (371 days).
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