In its annual assessment of the state of health and social care in England, the regulator highlighted particular concerns on varying levels of access to mental health support which were exacerbated by inequalities.

Responding to the report, health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said the Government was ‘kickstarting work to improve children's health to ensure they have the best start in life, including by banning junk food ads targeted at children', but added it would ‘take time to turn the NHS around'.

Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said the concerns raised about children's services were ‘deeply worrying'.

She said there had been ‘a spike' in children and young people coming forward for mental health treatment and that not everyone was receiving the timely care they needed.

The NHS Confederation director said lack of capital and flat revenue growth had led to demand far outstripping capacity, adding the NHS had been left to deal with the ‘fallout' of a less healthy nation, the cost of living crisis and years of austerity.

Siva Anandaciva, chief analyst and interim co-director of Policy at The King's Fund, said: ‘Failing to treat and support children's health conditions today is storing up health, economic and societal problems for tomorrow.'

Anandaciva called for ‘a cross-government health inequalities strategy to feed into the 10-Year Health Plan, shifting care closer to home so that care can be received in the most appropriate settings, and support people to live healthier lives through more focus on prevention'.

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive, NHS Providers, said too many young lives were being blighted by delays to accessing care' and echoed Andaciva's calls for a  cross-government approach to improving health and wellbeing.

Director of Policy at the Health Foundation, Hugh Alderwick, said the chancellor's first Budget next week was the Government's ‘opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to getting the NHS back on its feet'.