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Autism and ADHD Assessments
06 February 2023
Lead MP
Elliot Colburn
Responding Minister
Maria Caulfield
Tags
NHSNorthern IrelandMental HealthChildren & Families
Word Count: 21917
Other Contributors: 26
At a Glance
Elliot Colburn raised concerns about autism and adhd assessments in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The lead MP asks the government to create an emergency fund to address waiting lists for autism and ADHD assessments, improve training for GPs and teachers who act as gatekeepers to assessments, gather data on assessment waiting times, and provide better support post-diagnosis. He also requests updates from the Minister on steps being taken to reduce waiting times and improve diagnostic pathways. Ms Farris calls for a more streamlined diagnostic system that prioritises children who are failing to access the curriculum or at risk of exclusion. She also asks if there could be an online tool allowing for preliminary ADHD diagnosis while awaiting formal assessments and seeks information on whether on-site testing in schools is ready for roll-out.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The lead MP is concerned about the massive waiting lists for autism and ADHD assessments, with over 120,000 people in England awaiting an assessment. He notes that the average child waiting times are approximately seven months in England and Scotland, while in Wales it's 1.6 years, and there is no data for Northern Ireland. For adults, waiting times are around six months in Scotland, one year in England, nearly two years in Wales, and four years in Northern Ireland. He highlights the lack of national data on ADHD care and the underdiagnosis of ADHD, particularly among women and girls. The MP also mentions harrowing real-life implications of inadequate and delayed support for those with ADHD, including potential trauma and suicide risks. Ms Laura Farris is concerned about the long waiting times for autism and ADHD diagnoses in West Berkshire, which can range from three to twelve months. She highlights specific cases where children have waited over two years for a diagnosis, leading to educational and social developmental issues. For instance, one child had been on the CAMHS waiting list for nearly three years and is now no longer in education due to anger and behavioural problems; another child has been waiting since he was eight years old with similar challenges.
Alex Sobel
Lab Co-op
Leeds Central and Headingley
Called for more resources for ADHD services, noting a minimum waiting time of two years in Leeds for the first appointment. Highlighted stigma around ADHD diagnosis and lack of routine training for clinical staff. Emphasised the need for compulsory screening for those receiving custodial sentences due to high prevalence of ADHD among prisoners. Raised concerns about people turning to expensive private sector treatments due to long NHS waiting times.
Southgate and Wood Green
Charalambous raised the challenges faced by individuals with ADHD due to underdiagnosis and undertreatment, noting that one in twenty people in the UK has ADHD but only 120,000 have a formal diagnosis. He highlighted long wait times for assessments and inconsistent access to services across different regions.
Caroline Nokes
Con
Romsey and Southampton North
Agreed that delays in proper diagnosis and women/girls being less likely to be diagnosed than their male peers are significant issues for ADHD and autism.
Esther McVey
Con
Tatton
She adds that waiting times for assessments are a complete waste of opportunity and talent, reinforcing the need to address these issues promptly.
Flick Drummond
Con
Portsmouth North
Discussed the importance of early assessment and diagnosis for autistic people, highlighting a case where timely diagnosis transformed a child's educational experience. Raised concerns about undiagnosed autism affecting education, work, and social life, as well as the increased mental health risks faced by autistic individuals. Mentioned that waiting lists for autism assessments have grown by nearly 40% due to the pandemic.
James Sunderland
Lab
Workington
Welcomed the imminent special educational needs and disability review and highlighted the need for early diagnosis to assist parents and others with appropriate medication.
John Howell
Con
Henley
Highlighted the problem of late diagnosis for autism and its impact on parents and children, especially when younger.
Jon Trickett
Lab
Normanton and Hemsworth
Mr. Trickett argued that there is a crisis in the country regarding autism and ADHD assessments, affecting millions of individuals and families. He highlighted cases where children are waiting long periods for assessment despite urgent needs, leading to significant family stress and financial strain. Mr. Trickett also mentioned that 120,000 people are currently waiting for an autism assessment in England alone, with a 40% increase in the number of people waiting over the past year. He emphasized that early diagnosis could prevent mental health issues later in life.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
May I ask how reliable diagnoses are when people eventually get their appointments? Two cases brought to my attention feature a resistance to making the diagnosis of ADHD, even though they were absolutely convinced that this was the answer. Mr. Lewis highlighted the importance of treatment options for ADHD beyond just diagnosis, discussing three cases involving individuals struggling with access to proper medical care and accurate diagnoses.
Justin Madders
Lab
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Mr Madders highlighted a 400% increase in adults seeking ADHD diagnosis nationally, with an estimated 170,000 people prescribed ADHD drugs between July and September alone. He criticised the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for closing its adult ADHD service to new referrals since April 2019. Madders also noted a shortage of educational psychologists in his area, with a ratio of one psychologist per 5,822 children and young people compared to national figures of one per 3,500.
Kerry McCarthy
Lab
Bristol East
Ms McCarthy expressed concern over the perceived increase in skepticism towards ADHD and autism diagnoses, highlighting the importance of accurate and timely assessments for individuals, particularly adults who were misdiagnosed earlier. She stressed the role of GPs in diagnosing neurodevelopmental conditions and advocated for better training of teachers to identify early signs of these conditions. She also mentioned that over 95,000 children are awaiting autism diagnostic assessments, highlighting the need for more data collection on ADHD.
Kim Leadbeater
Lab
Spen Valley
Acknowledged the West Yorkshire ADHD Support Group and expressed concern over long waiting times for diagnosis, which can cause children to fall behind their peers in education. My hon. Friend makes the valuable point that sadly we still have a lot of work to do to reduce the stigma associated with ADHD and autism. I agree that we need an education system and society that celebrate neurodiversity.
Margaret Ferrier
SNP
Rutherglen and Hamilton West
Margaret Ferrier highlighted the underdiagnosis of ADHD and autism in women and girls, noting societal pressures that lead to masking symptoms. She mentioned a case where an adult staff member was diagnosed at age 24 with significant delays in receiving treatment due to limited slots. Ferrier emphasized that misdiagnoses often occur with mood disorders like depression or anxiety instead of addressing the root neurodevelopmental issues. The cost of private assessments and treatments is prohibitive for many, with waiting times up to two years for specialist services. She also pointed out the correlation between undiagnosed ADHD and illicit drug use as a coping mechanism.
Mark Eastwood
Con
Dewsbury
Discussed how assessment waiting times are compounded by the time it can take to get EHCPs from local councils, leading to further delays in support. The hon. Member mentions a postcode lottery, dependent on where people live. Is it the case that this applies in the school system as well? Mark Eastwood highlighted the personal impact of delays in autism and ADHD assessments on families. He mentioned that some families in his constituency have waited up to two years for a CAMHS assessment and three years for an EHCP, delaying crucial support for children's education and mental health. He also noted the varying performance of local councils in issuing EHCPs within 20 weeks, with Kirklees Council performing poorly compared to Leeds and Bradford. Mr Eastwood intervened to suggest that delays in adults receiving ADHD diagnoses were partly due to the misconception that ADHD was a sign of bad behaviour rather than a medical condition.
Matt Vickers
Con
Stockton West
Matt Vickers discussed the significant impact of delayed autism and ADHD diagnoses on individuals, citing a constituent's six-year struggle before diagnosis. He highlighted the importance of reducing waiting times and improving support systems for those with these conditions.
Agreed that delays in diagnosing neurodiverse conditions impact young people, families, and the economy by denying businesses and public services the talent of neurodiverse individuals.
Peter Bottomley
Con
Bognor Regis and Littlehampton
I expressed gratitude for the efforts to put neurodiversity on the map in Parliament, highlighting its significance as part of what is usual.
Peter Gibson
Con
Darlington
Mr Gibson expressed concerns about the long wait times for autism and ADHD assessments in Darlington, noting that more than 300 people under 18 are awaiting an assessment. He highlighted issues with local service providers, recruitment challenges, and the need to improve guidance for parents post-diagnosis. Mr Gibson also discussed his engagement with Tees Esk Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust and welcomed a review of special educational needs and disabilities services.
Robert Buckland
Con
South Swindon
Noted the appointment of neurodiversity support managers in prisons as a step forward, responding positively to Flick Drummond's mention of the criminal justice system and its role in identifying people with neurodivergent conditions.
Robert Courts
Con
Wantage
He agrees with the lead MP that assessment times are not fit for purpose, highlighting wasted opportunities and talent due to long waiting lists. He notes the underdiagnosis of ADHD in women and girls.
Robin Walker
Con
Bromsgrove
That is twice that the hon. Member for Batley and Spen (Kim Leadbeater) has intervened and I have agreed with what she said. As Chair of the Select Committee on Education, I am passionate about ensuring provision to address children's needs and encourage faster diagnosis to meet the need and ensure specialist support. Robin Walker intervened to support Steven Bonnar's speech, noting the correlation between children's persistent absence from school due to a lack of needed support and the need for clearer and earlier diagnosis and appropriate support. Welcomed the expansion of mental health teams and more support in schools, but raised concerns about children out of school waiting a long time for an EHCP due to feeling their needs are not being met. Suggested faster diagnosis would benefit the system.
Tooting
The MP highlighted the increased suicide rate among those with ADHD and autism, stressing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. She raised concerns about postcode lottery access to timely assessments, noting that more than 125,000 people are currently waiting for an autism assessment, a 30% increase from the previous year. The MP also mentioned a constituent who will wait three years before being seen for an assessment, leading to insecurity in personal life and work. She criticised the lack of NHS waiting time standards for ADHD assessments and called for more tailored care post-assessment.
Siobhan Baillie
Con
Stroud
Siobhan Baillie highlighted the challenges faced by families in Stroud with children waiting for ADHD and autism diagnoses. She mentioned a significant increase of 400% in adult ADHD diagnoses, emphasizing the need for early diagnosis to prevent long-term issues such as lost job opportunities and mental health problems.
Barnsley South
Stephanie Peacock highlighted the long waiting times for ADHD and autism diagnoses, especially in Barnsley East where it is among the highest in the country. She mentioned a funding gap of over £35 million for special educational needs provision and shared testimonies from parents struggling to secure support for their children due to inadequate diagnostic services.
Steve Brine
Constitutional
Washford
Asked if answering the petition positively would be a key prevention issue in healthcare given the shocking statistics about adults with ADHD attempting suicide.
Steven Bonnar
SNP
Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
The provision of services for adults with ADHD is not well understood across the UK. Up to 65% of undiagnosed adults in childhood suffer from mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders. There are currently 120,000 adults waiting to be assessed. Steven Bonnar praised the Scottish Government's commitment to a learning disability, autism and neurodiversity Bill and their recruitment of neurodivergent people for an inclusive consultation panel.
Government Response
Maria Caulfield
Government Response
Thanked Elliot Colburn for introducing the debate and praised the constructive tone of contributions from various Members. Noted public awareness of autism and ADHD has increased over the past decade but highlighted significant issues with diagnosis and support, including high waiting times and low compliance rates with NICE guidelines. Announced £74 million investment in the autism strategy, £2.5 million for improving diagnostic pathways, and £13 million for pilot studies to improve assessment across the country. Emphasized the importance of integrated care boards leading local improvements and collaboration between health and education sectors through the SEND review and national autism strategy implementation. Conceded that more work is needed but expressed hope for meaningful change with joint efforts.
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Assessment & feedback
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.