Fewer Stockport patients waiting for autism diagnosis

Fewer Stockport patients with suspected autism were waiting for an autism diagnosis at the end of 2021, new figures show.

But the National Autistic Society said “huge” numbers of people are waiting to be seen across England, with some potentially having to wait years for a diagnosis.

NHS Digital figures show approximately 40 adults and children referred to autism services in the NHS Stockport CCG area were waiting for an assessment in December.

This was down from around 50 in December 2020, and 60 in March 2020.

Referrals can be made by GPs or other health professionals, as well as speech therapists and special education needs staff within schools.

Nationally, 88,000 people were waiting for an assessment in December – up from 64,000 in December 2020, an increase of 38%.

Tim Nicholls, head of policy, public affairs, and research partnerships at the National Autistic Society, said the figures are "huge" and is worried people will have to wait months or even years for a diagnosis.

Mr Nicholls urged the Government to invest in rolling out support and diagnosis services, as outlined in its five-year autism strategy.

In a joint policy paper in July, the Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care vowed to provide high-quality and timely autistic diagnoses and promised to make "demonstrable progress" on reducing diagnosis waiting times.

NICE guidance states an early and quick diagnosis is vital to autism treatment, and that all providers should aim to provide patients with their first appointment within 13 weeks of being referred.

The number of patients receiving their first appointment before the 13-week target in England rose in 2021, when 90,000 people were seen within that time – up from 68,000 the year prior.

Figures for patients in Stockport were suppressed to prevent the identification of individual people.

NHS Digital did not provide figures on patients waiting more than 13 weeks.

"These figures are still new and don’t give us an accurate picture of just how long people are waiting for a diagnosis across England," Mr Nicholls added.

"The NHS needs to work to make this data more robust, so areas can be held to account for carrying out a diagnosis in good time."

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We know how vital it is to reduce the time taken for people to receive an assessment of autism and to ensure people get a timely diagnosis.

"To better understand autism diagnosis waiting times across the country NHS Digital has changed the way this data is collected, and we expect this to start providing a much clearer picture going forward."