Cambridgeshire’s mental health services are under strain, with waiting lists continuing to grow despite efforts to reduce them. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) reported a “meteoric rise” in referrals for some services, particularly those relating to adult and children’s ADHD and autism assessments.
A recent report presented to the CPFT board revealed concerning trends. As of December, the adult ADHD waiting list stood at 7,017 – a 26% increase since the beginning of 2024. The adult autism waiting list experienced an even sharper rise, increasing by 29% to 2,276. While the overall adult mental health waiting list (excluding ADHD and autism) saw a slight decrease of 40 patients, the growing demand for neurodevelopmental services is placing significant pressure on resources.
The challenges extend to children’s mental health, with 1,723 currently awaiting assessment and 2,403 waiting for treatment. The Trust is reporting a sustained increase in referrals for children’s ADHD services, and waiting times for learning disability services are also “higher than in previous years.” One child faced a 76-week wait for paediatric community nursing, a delay that board members acknowledged was excessively long.
Holly Sutherland, Chief Operating Officer at CPFT, admitted the Trust still faces “ongoing challenges with waiting list positions.” While progress has been made with adult mental health services, the waits for ADHD and autism assessments remain particularly problematic. Discussions are underway with the Integrated Care Board to find sustainable solutions.
Concerns were also raised about the impact of the pandemic on individuals with learning disabilities, who experienced significant disruptions to services and support. Eileen Milner, Trust Chair, highlighted that access to services remains a challenge for this vulnerable population, potentially compounding the long-term effects of lockdown.
The Integrated Care Board is leading work to streamline children’s neurodevelopmental services, aiming to consolidate appointments so that children and their families can access multiple specialists in a single visit. Currently, families often face numerous appointments to address different needs, creating a fragmented and stressful experience. Board members believe this new approach could have a “massive impact” on families and prevent issues from escalating into adulthood.
