Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of long waiting times for an assessment of neurodevelopmental conditions on children.

The NHS England national framework and operational guidance for autism assessment services, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) quality standard for autism, set out that diagnostic assessments should happen as soon as possible so that appropriate health, social care, and education interventions, as well as advice and support, can be offered.

The Department is currently considering next steps to improve diagnostic assessments and support for autistic people and for people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

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 and ADHD services, in line with relevant NICE guidelines. This includes support for children and young people whilst waiting for an assessment.

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. The guidance also sets out what support should be available before an assessment and what support should follow a recent diagnosis of autism. In 2024/25, £4.3 million is available nationally to improve services for autistic children and young people, including autism assessment services.

In respect of ADHD, we are supporting a cross-sector taskforce that NHS England has launched for the challenges in ADHD service provision, to help provide a joined-up approach in response to concerns around rising demand