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<p>The Department issued new statutory guidance in March this year for local authorities
and National Health Service organisations to support the continued implementation
of the 2010 Autism Strategy, as refreshed by its 2014 Think Autism update. This sets
out what people seeking an autism diagnosis can expect from Local Authorities and
NHS bodies.</p><br /><p>The Department has also discussed with NHS England the difficulties
that people on the autistic spectrum can have in getting an appropriate diagnosis
in a timely manner. With support from the Department, NHS England and the Association
of Directors of Social Services will undertake a series of visits to clinical commissioning
groups to discuss good practice in meeting the National Institute for Health and Care
Excellence (NICE) Quality Standard 51 Autism, and those that do not, with the aim
of supporting more consistent provision. These NICE guidelines already recommend that
there should be a maximum of three months between a referral and a first appointment
for a diagnostic assessment for autism. We expect the NHS to be working towards meeting
the recommendations.</p><br /><p>We are aware that Northumberland continues to make
significant progress in improving access to services. A child will wait no longer
between initial referral and treatment than 12 weeks and the majority are seen within
nine weeks. Northumberland has also invested in adult autism diagnosis services and
has an agreed programme with Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust designed
to deliver the NICE guidelines for adults by September 2016. Urgent cases are seen
earlier and those on waiting lists, whose needs escalate, are given access to services
as required. There is also a newly developed emotional health and wellbeing strategy
for children and young people in Northumberland which will aim seek to identify children
with autism at an earlier age and ultimately provide earlier treatment.</p><br /><p>NHS
England is promoting the engagement services with children and young people. All children,
young people and adults, including those with autism or a learning disability, who
are receiving care from the NHS, should have the opportunity to provide feedback via
the Friends and Family Test. There should also be consideration given to capturing
the views of parents and carers. In addition, the autism statutory guidance mentioned
above states that NHS bodies and NHS foundation trusts should look at people’s experiences
of the autism diagnostic process locally and assure themselves that this is acceptable.</p><br
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