Waiting times and outcomes

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Of the 497,502 children referred to CYPMHS in 2020/21, two-fifths received two contacts within the year (our proxy for entering treatment).

  • 146,366 children (29% of those referred) entered treatment within six weeks – an increase from 126,878 (24% of those referred) in 2019/20. Another 50,809 children (10.2% of those referred) entered treatment but waited more than six weeks – much lower than 68,457 children (13% of those referred) the previous year.
  • As with other indicators, the average waiting time for children to enter treatment (two contacts with CYPMHS) varies widely by CCG from as quick as 6 days in NHS Castle Point and Rochford to almost 81 days in NHS Cannock Chase.
  • The percentage of children still waiting for treatment at the end of the year also varied significantly at a CCG level from as low as 14% in NHS Castle Point and Rochford and NHS Mid Essex to 78% in NHS East Sussex.
  • This is slightly worse than in 2018/19 where the CCG with the highest proportion of children still waiting was 69% in NHS South Warwickshire while the lowest proportion was 10%. This compares to lows of 10% in NHS Tower Hamlets to highs of 74% in NHS North Lincolnshire the previous year.


Figure 1. Percentage of children referred to CYPMHS in 2018/19 to 2020/21 by outcome.


Amongst those who do receive two contacts within the year, national average waiting times for children referred to CYPMHS have reduced for three consecutive years. The average waiting time from referral to second contact has improved from 53 days in 2018/19 and 43 days in 2019/20 to 32 days in 2020/21.

  • This year, 29 CCGs (21%) had an average waiting time of three weeks (21 days) or less – a considerable increase from 11 CCGs in 2019/20 and three CCGs in 2018/19. Furthermore, 85% (115) of CCGs improved their average waiting times in 2020/21, the same as last year.

  • On average, CCGs with the largest decreases in waiting time (for those who received two contacts) also saw the biggest rise in the number of children still waiting without two contacts. This implies that a higher proportion of children are being placed on waiting lists, while those who manage to enter treatment (perhaps due to symptom severity and other vulnerabilities) are getting seen faster.


Table 1. CCGs with the lowest waiting times between referral and second contact with CYPMHS in 2020/21.

Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Avg. waiting time 2019/20 (days) Avg. waiting time 2020/21 (days) Avg. waiting time change (days)
NHS CASTLE POINT AND ROCHFORD CCG 26 6 -20
NHS BASILDON AND BRENTWOOD CCG 29 7 -22
NHS EAST LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND CCG 38 9 -29
NHS MID ESSEX CCG 30 9 -21
NHS NORTH EAST ESSEX CCG 24 9 -15
NHS WEST LEICESTERSHIRE CCG 44 10 -34
NHS WEST ESSEX CCG 38 10 -28
NHS SOUTHEND CCG 36 10 -26
NHS TOWER HAMLETS CCG 21 12 -9
NHS LEICESTER CITY CCG 38 13 -25


CCGs with the longest waiting times between referral and second contact with CYPMHS in 2020/21.

Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Avg. waiting time 2019/20 Avg. waiting time 2020/21 Avg. waiting time change
NHS CANNOCK CHASE CCG 57 81 24
NHS NORTH HAMPSHIRE CCG 84 74 -10
NHS NORTH EAST HAMPSHIRE AND FARNHAM CCG 61 67 6
NHS SOUTH EASTERN HAMPSHIRE CCG 61 65 4
NHS STAFFORD AND SURROUNDS CCG 55 64 9
NHS FYLDE & WYRE CCG 87 63 -24
NHS FAREHAM AND GOSPORT CCG 61 63 2
NHS BLACKPOOL CCG 68 59 -9
NHS SOUTH EAST STAFFORDSHIRE AND SEISDON PENINSULA CCG 53 58 5
NHS SOUTH TYNESIDE CCG 75 57 -18


Table 2. The 10 CCGs with the largest increases in average waiting time from 2017/18 to 2019/20.

Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Avg. waiting time 2019/20 (days) Avg. waiting time 2020/21 (days) Avg. waiting time change (days)
NHS CANNOCK CHASE CCG 57 81 24
NHS ISLE OF WIGHT CCG 45 56 11
NHS BARKING AND DAGENHAM CCG 8 18 10
NHS STAFFORD AND SURROUNDS CCG 55 64 9
NHS TELFORD AND WREKIN CCG 17 26 9
NHS ROTHERHAM CCG 12 20 8
NHS NORTH EAST HAMPSHIRE AND FARNHAM CCG 61 67 6
NHS OLDHAM CCG 33 39 6
NHS SOUTH EAST STAFFORDSHIRE AND SEISDON PENINSULA CCG 53 58 5
NHS SOUTH EASTERN HAMPSHIRE CCG 61 65 4


Table 3. The 10 CCGs with the largest decreases in average waiting time from 2017/18 to 2019/20.

Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Avg. waiting time 2019/20 Avg. waiting time 2020/21 Avg. waiting time change
NHS ST HELENS CCG 63 28 -35
NHS WEST LEICESTERSHIRE CCG 44 10 -34
NHS BRADFORD DISTRICT AND CRAVEN CCG 58 25 -33
NHS BERKSHIRE WEST CCG 60 27 -33
NHS EAST LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND CCG 38 9 -29
NHS WEST ESSEX CCG 38 10 -28
NHS BRENT CCG 70 43 -27
NHS SOUTHEND CCG 36 10 -26
NHS LEICESTER CITY CCG 38 13 -25
NHS WEST SUSSEX CCG 62 38 -24