To ask if you have a child with autism or on the pathway, How long are assessment wait times in your area?

[Crispymandm]

Just curious to see how long nhs assessment takes in your area after referral , and if your child was offered support after diagnosis?

Our area is saying 3-4 years. However it really depends on a case by case basis. DS received his diagnosis two weeks ago which was just under 2 years from referral. So not the 3-4 years they are telling people but I think this is because they were confident from his ADOS, school and parental reports, so they didn't need to fo any further observation in school or anything like that.

Referred July 21 for autism and ADHD. (Age 8)
Accepted for assessment in early March 2022
Early June we were notified that they were using a private company to help clear wait times and we were moved onto their wait-list
Assessments then took place early July 22. Diagnosis confirmed verbally July 22 and then official written reports on both diagnosis were completed in Sept and Oct 22.
53 weeks from first referral to verbal diagnosis.
I appreciate we were so so lucky. Whilst we were on the list I submitted supplemental information twice via the GP which was added to the referral. I emailed once a week asking where we were on the waiting list and I phoned monthly just to ask if there was any other support or updates.
Since diagnosis, zero support. We got a leaflet. That's it.

Has anyone gone for private assessment and been told its not asd? Were you given any indication of whether it might be something else, or no

Referred age 12. Scheduled age 16. Covid cancelled. Turned 18 end of Covid and then dropped from wait list as “too old now” so had to go private. Would be curious if there is a correlation between race and wait times.

You seem to have similar experience with others so I'm not sure race has anything to do with it.

I’m not sure if race has any impact either but am curious, my experience is at the upper end of wait times to the point my child aged out, and was ultimately let down by the NHS.

Given that there are known race disparities in other aspects of healthcare, it might be worth some research into this as well.

My experience is shorter than everyone on the thread so far and we're black. Also referred at 12. First appt 4 months later. Diagnosed by MDT another 4 months later. So in our case, then race made it shorter or we were just lucky.

Also NHS

It could also be dependent on area.

Yes, I agree area would be a factor.

4-5 years

Referred in October and triage appointment was meant to be yesterday, but it was cancelled! Not sure what wait is after this assessment.

One child 4 years from first appointment to diagnosis. 3 meetings in that time with paediatrician, one BOSA assessment by speech therapist. Sent home with leaflet. No further support.
Second child, waited 20 months for appointment. Due another in August....unlikely to get diagnosis as in the words of the paediatrician 'clever girls are difficult to diagnose' and 'well we don't want to put her in a box do we'

Caudwells is still a big wait, currently been waiting 12 months and told got to wait another 4!

I posted earlier in the thread, but thought I would update as we finally have a diagnosis - it took 8 years from referral to diagnosis.

8 years. That’s dreadful.

DD had a triage appointment last month, 8 weeks for a panel assessment. The waiting list is then 2 years but trying to get it down to 1.