Children’s specialists call for ‘greater and sustained investment’ in services

More than 200 specialists in children’s health have demanded the next Scottish Government provides “real long-term investment” in helping youngsters.

They urged politicians to “seize a critical opportunity” with “decisive action” to help improve the lives of children across the country.

Some 230 members of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) have written an open letter to all political parties in the run-up to next month’s Holyrood elections.

As well as calling for “greater and sustained investment in the services and in child health services” they stressed the need for action on child poverty, speaking about the “devastating impact” this can have.

With data from Public Health Scotland from December 2025 showing that two-fifths (40%) of youngsters are having to wait more than 12 weeks for outpatient hospital appointments, the letter highlighted the need to tackle “long waiting times for essential care” along with the “mounting pressures on an overstretched workforce”.

They also highlighted growing demands on specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs), with 8,841 referrals for help made in the final three months of last year, a rise of 17.6% from the previous quarter.

In the letter RCPCH members called on political leaders to “seize a critical opportunity”, adding that “Scotland’s children need decisive action now”.

They added: “We are calling for a Prescription for Change – a clear, unwavering commitment from the next Scottish Parliament to put children and young people at the centre of policymaking, strengthen child health services and support the paediatric workforce that cares for them.”

Politicians were told: “This is an opportunity to move beyond short-term fixes and commit to a bold… vision – one where every child receives timely, compassionate and high-quality care.

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

RCPCH officer for Scotland, Dr Lynn Macleod, 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.”

The plea 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 Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: “On the SNP’s watch, children’s health services are under immense strain.

“Far too many children are waiting over 12 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.

“If the SNP win the election in May, this crisis will only worsen.”

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

“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.”

Public health minister Jenni Minto 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.”

Scottish Greens co-leader, Gillian Mackay said: “Scotland’s paediatricians are sounding the alarm, and they are absolutely right to do so.

“Their warning reflects a growing crisis that has been ignored by decision-makers for far too long.

“The Scottish Greens have long argued that children’s health is about more than the NHS alone, it requires tackling the root causes, including poverty, insecure housing and the cost of living crisis, which are driving poor health outcomes in the first place.

“The pressure on children’s mental health services in particular, is a serious concern. Too many young people are waiting months for support, and too often help only comes when they are already in crisis.

“That is why the Scottish Greens have made it a central part of our election campaign to expand community-based mental health care and bring support closer to where people live.

“I recently visited the Nook in Glasgow, and saw first-hand the difference that early, accessible support can make. These kinds of vital walk-in services give people somewhere to turn before things escalate.

“Our plans would see a national rollout of free walk-in mental health hubs across Scotland, backed by sustained increases in funding and a focus on cutting waiting times for children and young people.

“This election is a chance to change course and demand better for our children and young people. The Scottish Greens are committed to making Scotland the best place to grow up.”

Reform has been contacted for comment.