Early years: health and care needs of under-5s and their families report
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Healthwatch Kingston upon Thames, in partnership with Kingston Voluntary Action, engaged with over 130 parents, carers, and community members to understand the health and care needs of children aged 0–5 and their families. Their community engagement project identified key strengths, challenges, and areas for improvement across early years services in Kingston.
Key findings included:
Mental and physical health impacts: Many parents reported emotional strain, isolation, and exhaustion. 59% experienced some mental health impact, while 50% reported physical health effects.
Access challenges: Long waits for speech therapy, child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) assessments, and autism diagnosis were common. Families had to organise, manage and coordinate the care their children were receiving.
Service experiences: While some praised GPs, dentists, and children’s centres, others faced issues with referrals, dismissive attitudes, and inconsistent care.
Child wellbeing concerns: 20% expressed worries about emotional, behavioural, or developmental issues, with many facing barriers to timely support.
Financial strain: A third of families reported struggling financially, particularly single-parent households.