Rebecca Long Bailey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2016-02-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to improve the current waiting time after referral for a diagnostic assessment for autism.

Alistair Burt

The Department has discussed with NHS England the difficulties that some people on the autistic spectrum can have in getting an appropriate diagnosis and support in a timely manner. NHS England has commenced a programme to visit clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to identify and share good practice in accessing timely autism diagnosis. NHS England with support from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services is to visit a selection of areas to talk to CCGs and local authorities about their Autism Diagnostic Care Pathways and post diagnostic support. A report on the work will be completed by the end of April 2016.