Community sector

Waiting list (September 2025) 

• The total reported community services waiting list in England fell slightly for the second month running (by 26,300) to 1.15 million in September but remains 5% higher than the same time last year.
• In September, the total number of CYP waiting for community services was 304,720, which is 11.7% higher than in September 2024.
• There were 850,200 adults on the community waiting list, up by 2.6% compared to the same time last year. 

FIGURE 4
Community health services total reported waiting list 

Long waits (over 52 weeks) 

• There were 75,660 CYP waiting for 52 weeks or more in September falling for the second month running. However, 1 in 4 children and young people wait over 52 weeks for community services. 2% of (23,620) CYP have been waiting for more than two years (104 weeks).
• There were 10,145 adults waiting for more than 52 weeks for treatment, down by nearly a quarter compared to last year. This includes 377 adults facing delays of over 104 weeks for treatment. 1% of adults have been waiting over a year for community services.  

Referrals and contacts (August 2025) 

• In August 2025, there were 1.64 million referrals received to community services, broadly in line with last year. Referrals have risen by 50% compared to six years ago, before the pandemic (August 2019). 
• A total of 8.13 million care contacts were reported across all submitters in August 2025, a fall of 2% compared to the same period last year.  

FIGURE 5
Total referrals received by community services