NHS data shows wait times for autism diagnosis reach 300 days

According to new NHS data, the average wait for an autism diagnosis in England has hit 300 days, up 53 per cent from 12 months previously and exceeding the NICE target of 91 days.

The National Autistic Society described such wait times as appalling, warning “autistic people shouldn’t miss out on vital support because they haven’t got a timely assessment.”

A government spokesperson said it had made £4.2m available this year to improve services for autistic children.

Joey Nettleton-Burrow, the National Autistic Society’s policy and public affairs manager, said “We do see a lot of misunderstanding from people, and it can include health and social care staff, but I wouldn’t say it is common with GPs.”

In September 2023, there were 157,809 people in England with an open referral for suspected autism, which is up 50 per cent from 12 months previously.  Of those currently open, 134,315 had a referral that had been open for at least 13 weeks.

Mr Nettleton-Burrows said that to bring waiting times down more money needed to be spent on recruitment and retention of staff, adding that the parts of England struggling with staffing would “undoubtedly have the highest waiting times”.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said they knew it was “vital to have a timely diagnosis of autism”, adding “We’ve made £4.2m available this year to improve services for autistic children and young people, and the NHS Long Term Plan will expand and transform mental health services in England with at least an extra £2.3bn a year by March 2024.

“NHS England has published a national framework and guidance on how people can receive a timely assessment and providing support before and after a diagnosis.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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