"Childrens health services and wait times"

My son is 3 years old and has a speech delay.  This was brought up promptly with his health visitor and all relevant referrals were made shortly after he was 2 years of age.  This included audiology, speech therapy and community paediatrician.  Although these referrals have been made, he has not yet been seen by one of these professionals, more than a year down the line now. 

I don't know why my son is speech delayed but from research, early intervention into addressing this is paramount.  I understand only too well the constraints faced by the NHS but my little boy is not getting the input he requires to help him with the basic human need of communicating and being understood. 

I have been in touch with audiology services several times since July when he should have been at the top of the list for an appointment to be told it was 65 weeks wait, then 75 weeks, and today 82 weeks. He was referred on July 2024 unless waiting list gets longer we dont expect an appointment until January 2026. 

Speech therapy is also a 2 year wait for an appointment, but you need hearing checked before that.  We are still waiting to hear anything about the community paediatrician.   It just feels like our little boy is being let down. We have had to access private speech therapy and stretch ourselves financially to do our best to meet our childs needs as best we can as the help is just not there.

I understand it must be so frustrating for the health care workers trying to provide these services.  The audiology service told me it was due to being short staffed and unable to fill posts as to why waiting times were so long.  Something needs to be done to meet the needs of children to avoid further health and social care issues as these children grow up.