Autism: Berkshire
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for autism assessments in (a) Wokingham and (b) Berkshire.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock
It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including autism assessments, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.
On 5 April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance to help ICBs and the National Health Service to deliver improved outcomes for children, young people, and adults referred to an autism assessment service. In 2024/25, £4.3 million is available nationally to improve services for autistic children and young people, including autism assessment services.
The Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and West Berkshire ICB advises that it has implemented a new assessment model within its neurodevelopmental conditions service, to enable the team to carry out additional assessments. The ICB further advises that it commissions Living Well from Autism Berkshire to provide needs-led community support, which is available for people of all ages waiting for an autism diagnosis, or who have suspected autism. The ICB is also working with the three Berkshire West local authorities, including Wokingham, as well as Children’s Services and Education to introduce a needs-led approach to autism, to ensure that children have their needs met sooner, before diagnosis.
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