Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Wandsworth Council is addressing significant delays in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, with some children waiting almost two years for neurodevelopmental diagnoses.
In November 2026, Wandsworth Council's Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee heard that some children are waiting 93 weeks for diagnoses of neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD and autism. Demand for the borough’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) has risen by 20% in the last year, contributing to significant treatment delays. The average wait for treatment has doubled over four years, reaching 15 weeks.
Councils are also reviewing services and young people's mental health needs. In October 2026, Kingston upon Thames' Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel discussed progress on an independent review of children's mental health services. Croydon's Corporate Parenting Board was scheduled in November 2026 to hold a deep dive discussion on mental health and emotional wellbeing for care-experienced young people.
Key facts
- Some children in Wandsworth face 93-week waits for ADHD and autism diagnoses, as reported to the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee in November 2026. Source
- Demand for Wandsworth's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) has increased by 20% in the last year. Source
- The average wait for CAMHS treatment in Wandsworth has doubled to 15 weeks over the past four years. Source
- Referrals for neurodevelopmental conditions grew from 32% to 46% of all CAMHS referrals in Wandsworth from 2022/23. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 13 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.