Waiting times

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Waiting times for appointments

We understand that waiting for your child’s first appointment can be frustrating. We are trying to see as many children and young people as possible. Waiting times depend on why you need to see us and who you are seeing.

We are committed to improving waiting times. Over the last five years, referrals to our service have increased. There are several reasons for this, including a growing population, greater awareness of neurodiversity and the changing needs of children since the COVID-19 pandemic.

We know it can be hard for families waiting for answers. Over the last two years, waiting times have gone down at the Cheyne Child Development Service. Although our waiting times are still longer than we would like, they are now below national averages. We want to reduce waiting times further and are working hard across the service to achieve this.

How you can help us keep waiting times down

Families can help us manage the waiting list and reduce waiting times by:

  • Letting us know as soon as possible if you move out of the area or no longer need an assessment.
  • Letting us know as soon as possible if you cannot attend an appointment, so we can rearrange it.
  • Attending appointments or cancelling in advance. If you do not attend without telling us, your child may be discharged from the service and will need a new referral. This may mean a longer wait before your child can be seen again.
  • Completing and returning any questionnaires as soon as possible, so we have the information needed for your appointment.
  • Keeping your contact details up to date (phone number, address and email). If we cannot contact you to arrange an appointment, your child may be discharged from the service and will need a new referral. This may mean a longer wait before your child can be seen again.
  • Letting us know if your circumstances change, for example if there are significant safeguarding concerns, or if your child changes school or is no longer attending school. If your child needs support with their mental health, please seek advice from your GP or your local CAMHS service.

We know how important it is to support your child’s needs as early as possible. Your child should receive support at school or at home, even if they have not yet seen a specialist or had an assessment. Support should be based on what they need help with in daily life, rather than being based on a diagnosis. We also understand that a diagnosis can be important to families for many other reasons.

Support while you wait

There is lots of support available for families while they are waiting.