‘No solution’ after firm’s closure leaves children waiting for diagnosis

A trust has paused autism assessments of primary school-aged children after being unable to find a “cost effective” provider.

Northampton General Hospital Trust has struggled to source an affordable provider for autism assessments for children aged 5 to 11 in West Northamptonshire after its previous provider, Target Autism, was shut at the end of August on the retirement of its owners.

The trust said in board papers that it has “currently no solution” for what it called a “significant challenge”, despite the provider’s closure being public since at least March.

Services for children with special educational needs in the county already face significant challenges, with families describing years-long waits for assessments. The Care Quality Commission identified “systemic failings” in West Northamptonshire’s SEND provision in March. 

Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board, in its own board papers, raised “serious concerns about the risk of reduced services and impact on children and families”. It said they are experiencing “pathway uncertainty” and “inadequate communication” about waiting times and service gaps. 

Many impacted families have already waited years for an assessment, and had not received adequate communication over the closure of Target Autism, according to feedback collected by a local parents and carers group, West Northants Voices in Partnership.

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Source: HSJ, 23 October 2024