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<p>The Department recognises the importance of timely and effective diagnosis processes
and that is why we have introduced the first ever collection and reporting of autism
waiting times data.</p><p>On 14 November 2019, NHS Digital published statistics that
present the number of new referrals to mental health services for which the referral
reason was suspected autism, as well as their waiting times to first appointment.
These are experimental statistics and have been published by NHS Digital to involve
users and stakeholders in the future development of the data, including work to improve
the quality of the data. The data is intended to give average time to diagnosis, but
it will take some time before that information is ready for publication. The data
is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/autism-statistics/autism-statistics"
target="_blank">https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/autism-statistics/autism-statistics</a></p><p>In
addition, the NHS Long Term Plan has set out that over the next three years, autism
diagnosis will be included alongside work with children and young people’s mental
health services to test and implement the most effective ways to reduce waiting times
for specialist services.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
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