AQW 8211/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 05/03/2024
Answered On Date: 20/03/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the commissioning of autism diagnosis services for adults.

Answer:

The Department is aware of the extensive waiting lists for adult autism assessment and the challenges that this presents to those people who need support. A Review of Adult Autism Services across the region has been undertaken and the recommendations were presented to the Permanent Secretary. One of the recommendations is the appointment of a Lead for Adult Autism Services - recruitment of this post is currently underway. This role will be responsible for taking forward the findings emerging from this review; this will include consideration of the commissioning of autism diagnostic services for adults.

Each Health & Social Care Trust (HSCT) is also implementing a number of actions to improve access to diagnostic services:

Belfast Trust - continues to recruit and train staff within available resources, however demand for Autism diagnosis and subsequent interventions continues to rise.

Northern Trust– The Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Service is currently funded for 6.9 whole time equivalent staff to provide diagnostic assessments and interventions to adults in the Northern Trust area.

Southern Trust – have appointed a new ASD Mental Health Coordinator who is expected to take up post by the end of March 2024. This additional support will enable the ASD Adult Diagnostic service to increase its assessment clinics from once per month to weekly (circa 4 assessments per month from current baseline of 1 per month) commencing from April 2024.

South Eastern Trust– have updated their short-term intervention service model to a predominately group-based intervention which then enables capacity to be redirected to completing diagnostic assessments.

Western Trust – are working to triage all referrals in a timely and comprehensive manner in keeping with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance. There are regular reviews of the Trust waiting list. The Trust service maintains compliance with both NICE guidance and the Northern Ireland Adult Autism Care Pathway.