Thousands of children now waiting for assessments as paediatricians warn of crisis in community care

THE NUMBER of children waiting for Autism and ADHD assessments in west Wales has soared by hundreds of percent, with clinicians warning that delays are placing vulnerable children at risk and stretching public services to the limit.

Figures released by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) show that since 2018, the number of children in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area waiting for an Autism Spectrum Disorder assessment has increased by 781%. ADHD referrals have also risen dramatically — up by 331% over the same period.

Waiting lists for general community paediatric services in Hywel Dda have also risen, though more modestly, increasing by 4.1% from 1,477 in 2018 to 1,538 in 2025.

The data, published this week in the RCPCH’s report Collaborative Healthcare in Wales: Delivering the Services Children Need in the Community, highlights a worsening picture for families across west Wales. It also shows that the scale of the crisis is not limited to one area.

In neighbouring Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board, the number of under-18s waiting for neurodevelopmental services rose from 2,173 in 2023 to 3,391 by January this year — a rise of more than 56% in just two years.

Community paediatricians, who lead services supporting children with complex medical and developmental needs, are sounding the alarm. They warn that a chronic lack of funding, staff shortages, and rising demand have pushed services beyond safe capacity.

Across Wales, thousands of children are now on waiting lists for vital care delivered outside of hospitals — including assessments for autism, ADHD, and speech and language difficulties. These services are typically delivered in clinics, schools and local hubs, aiming to support children earlier and closer to home.

In some parts of Wales, demand has more than doubled in the past five years:

Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board saw a 1016% increase in community paediatric waiting lists, from 805 in 2018 to 8,986 in 2025.

Cardiff and Vale reported a 302% increase in waiting lists alongside an 8% drop in paediatricians.

Swansea Bay’s waiting list rose 112% since 2020, with average wait times now 80 weeks.

Powys reported a 112% rise in neurodevelopmental service referrals since 2022, with just three community paediatricians covering the entire county.

The RCPCH has called on the Welsh Government to urgently prioritise investment in children’s health services. It says the aim of delivering care closer to home is being undermined by long waits, inconsistent access, and a growing gap between policy and practice.

The report also highlights wider systemic problems — including poor transitions from children’s to adult services, an over-reliance on formal assessments, and increasing pressure on families forced to navigate fragmented services without support.

Doctors have warned that without urgent action, the impact on children’s lives — including their mental health, education, and future wellbeing — will be severe. The report notes that children with unmet health needs often face long-term disadvantages, with serious consequences for wider society and public finances.

The RCPCH says the system must move away from reliance on goodwill from overstretched NHS staff and invest in early intervention, better staffing, and coordinated support across services.

FAMILY members from across the UK have travelled to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre to view a new exhibit honouring a wartime RAF airman who served aboard the Sunderland flying boat T9044.

Brother and sister Ross Burrows, from Grimsby, and Nikki Soysa, who travelled from the Hebrides, joined their cousin Shirley Shelley Hutchinson, from Yorkshire, and Ross’s wife Dianne, to view the poignant display dedicated to Wing Commander David Burrows. David was the navigator aboard the Sunderland T9044 on its final mission to Pembroke Dock in November 1940, which tragically sank in the Haven shortly after its arrival.

The family has generously donated Wing Commander Burrows’ logbook, uniforms, and other treasured memorabilia, now thoughtfully incorporated into the Centre’s collection, alongside other artefacts from the T9044.

Ross Burrows praised the Centre’s efforts, saying: “The museum team has created a wonderful exhibit about dad and his story. Their enthusiasm shines through clearly. We’re excited to encourage more family members to visit.”

The Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre is open Monday to Friday, from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

ONE of the bosses behind a £1 million counterfeit tobacco operation in Carmarthenshire has been ordered to repay tens of thousands of pounds and sell his BMW.

Shoresh Mhmood, aged 35, must pay £86,927 within three months or face 10 months in prison. His co-defendant, 48-year-old Aran Baker, has been ordered to pay £630.

The case at Swansea Crown Court followed an investigation by Carmarthenshire County Council, triggered by test purchases of illicit cigarettes at the Groszek shop on Cowell Street, Llanelli.

Prosecutor Lee Reynolds described the premises as “a very busy and successful cash-based shop primarily operating to sell illicit tobacco”.

When council officers searched Mhmood’s home, they uncovered 9,500 counterfeit cigarettes, 170 pouches of tobacco, and £32,699 cash in a safe. A subsequent raid at Baker’s property revealed a further 89,000 counterfeit cigarettes.

Handwritten records found during the investigation indicated the shop earned between £615 on quiet days and £2,225 on busier days purely from illicit tobacco sales. Over 817 days, these takings approached £1 million.

Previously, Shoresh Salih Mhmood, of Dillwyn Street, Llanelli, received a prison sentence of 42 months, while Aran Baker, of Penciliogi, Llanelli, was sentenced to 51 months for fraudulent business activities.

In the latest Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, investigators determined both men had each benefited by around £125,000. However, available assets totalled £86,927 for Mhmood, including cash, bank funds, and a BMW car, which will now be auctioned. Baker’s available assets totalled only £630, held in a bank account.

Confiscation orders were issued accordingly, with custody terms set if the amounts remain unpaid—10 months for Mhmood and seven days for Baker.