Families 'left in lurch' on child autism diagnoses

Hundreds of thousands of children with suspected neurodevelopmental conditions in England, including autism and ADHD, face unacceptably long waits to be diagnosed, the Children's Commissioner, external has warned.

Dame Rachel de Souza's report into the issue said the system has failed to keep up with rising demand, leaving families "in the lurch" and expected to cope by themselves while they wait.

Parents are having to "jump through multiple hoops" to get support, while their children can end up in crisis and robbed of their potential, she said.

The report calls for urgent change to a needs-led, not a diagnosis-led, system of support - something the government insists it is tackling head-on.

Dame Rachel said she was shocked by how many providers had published apology messages and videos about the long waits.

"At such a crucial time developmentally, every day a child waits for support could permanently alter their life course," she warned.

She said, tragically, some children's unmet needs escalate to crisis point, citing the example of a 14-year-old autistic girl who ended up being admitted to hospital multiple times and required police involvement after health, social care and education had "failed to put in place the interventions she needed".

"Children and their families should never have to 'beg' or 'fight' for help," she said. "Yet, sadly, these are the words I hear most often when asking about seeking support for a child's neurodivergence."

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Source: BBC News, 15 October 2024