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<p>The Department has 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 National Health Service to be working towards
meeting the recommendations. Information on the average waiting time for an autism
diagnosis in Devon in each of the last three years is not collected centrally.</p><br
/><p>General practitioners (GPs) are required to keep adequate records of their attendance
on, and treatment of, their patients and this should include details of autism where
it is known. For this to work successfully locally services undertaking autism diagnosis
should pass information back to the GP who has made the original referral. This is
outlined in the recent Autism Statutory Guidance for local authorities and the NHS.</p>
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