In an open letter to all Scottish political parties, 230 members of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (°µÍø½ûÇø) have called for a clear, unwavering commitment from the next Scottish Parliament to put children and young people at the centre of policy making.
Paediatricians are increasingly alarmed by the declining state of child health across Scotland. This troubling trend is closely tied to rising child poverty, with 1 in 5 of children now living in relative poverty. In a joint snapshot survey with CPAG, 99% of paediatricians across the UK reported that poverty is directly contributing to ill health among the children they treat.
At the same time, concerns about children’s mental health continue to grow. Referrals to mental health services are rising, and the pressure on already stretched teams is becoming impossible to ignore. In the quarter ending December 2025, CAMHS received 8,841 referrals, up 17.6% on the previous quarter.
Further figures from Public Health Scotland (December 2025) reveal that 40% of children are waiting more than 12 weeks for outpatient appointments. For many, these delays mean missing critical developmental windows for treatment and intervention, which can lead to irreversible harm, widening health inequalities, and increasing long term pressure on already stretched services.
°µÍø½ûÇø Scotland members believe the upcoming Holyrood elections present a vital opportunity to reverse these trends, by placing children and young people at the heart of policymaking and creating a landscape in which their health, wellbeing and rights are not only safeguarded, but actively prioritised.
°µÍø½ûÇø 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.