Parents in England face two-year waits for child ADHD and autism assessments
NHS bodies in England impose a minimum two-year wait for assessments of children with ADHD and autism.
Impact on families and work
Three-quarters of parents have reduced working hours or stopped work due to the lack of support available after diagnosis. Families describe the situation as deeply damaging because young people cannot receive necessary medical assistance for two years. This delay prevents children from learning, making friends, and achieving ordinary daily goals.
Government coordination issues
Critics state that NHS rationing of assessments contradicts the Department for Education principle of early help. There is currently a lack of engagement between the Department of Health and Social Care regarding special educational needs reforms. The two-year wait holds a child's potential on hold for a quarter of their life.
Reported by one outlet
Only one outlet has published this. Nothing here has been checked against a second report, so read it as that outlet's account and follow the link below for the original.
Reported by
1 independent outlet. Headline as published. Links open the original report.