Lay summary
Timely access to specialist health services is essential for children’s health, learning, and development. Yet, government reporting provides little information about how long children wait for care, or whether some groups experience longer delays. This research will examine how many children are waiting for specialist appointments, follow-ups, and treatment in New Zealand, and whether wait times differ by region, age, gender, or ethnicity. We will also analyse how children are prioritised on wait lists. In addition, we will interview families to understand the impact of waiting for specialist care on whānau. This research will provide vital evidence to improve access to timely specialist health services for children. It will help identify where services and policies need to change, so that all children can receive the care they need, when they need it, offering good value for health investment.