| answer text |
<p>We are committed to ensuring all adults and children receive a timely autism diagnosis
in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance.</p><p> </p><p>The
NHS Long Term Plan was published on 7 January 2019. The Plan commits to improving
autism diagnostic pathways in England and ensuring autistic people have access to
high-quality care and support in the community. 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. This will be a step towards achieving timely diagnostic assessments
in line with best practice guidelines.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is determined
to drive up performance on autism diagnosis nationally. To support this NHS Digital
began formally collecting autism diagnosis waiting time data, including information
on gender, from mental health provider trusts for the first time through the Mental
Health Services Data set in April 2018.</p>
|
|
