Adults waiting up to two years for autism assessments

Wednesday 02 February 2022

Some adult islanders have been left waiting for two years or more for full autism assessments as none were carried out last year, Express has learned.

There are currently 54 adults awaiting a full diagnostic assessment and 18 adults waiting for an initial screening before a full assessment.

The current longest wait for an assessment has been two years and two months.

The Government described the waiting lists as “an issue of priority concern” when contacted by Express. 

In addition to unspecified “clinical pressures”, a spokesperson explained that assessments did not take place in 2021 “as a result of staff changes in the team”.

They said that difficulties had also arisen due to “the need to ensure the staff had completed the required specialist training”, which they said was “not easily available until towards the end of the year due to covid-19.”

Pictured: The Government said staffing issues meant that full assessments couldn't be carried out in 2021.

Some “diagnostic work” started again in December with the help of a third-party provider, they added. 

However, it remains unclear exactly how the backlog will be tackled.

 “…The team is currently developing a clear trajectory in relation to the backlog of diagnostic assessments and the support that may be required to address this,” the Government said.

It follows concerns about the service offered to children and young people.

In August, Express reported that the backlog had risen from six to 18 months over the course of the year, with 73 children needing to be seen at the time. 

But by November an external provider had been recruited and the backlog had been nearly halved to 38 children, with a waiting time from referral to assessment of just three months.