AQW 26115/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the current waiting time for children's autism assessments, broken down by Health and Social Care Trust.
Asked by Michelle Guy MLA on 11 April 2025
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 11 April 2025
- Answer due by
- 30 April 2025
- Answered
- 30 April 202519 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
As part of the Encompass roll-out, the South Eastern, Belfast and Northern Trusts have now gone live with a new electronic patient record system and their data is undergoing extensive validation. There is no validated information available from these Trusts at this time.
SHSCT at 31/12/2024 there were 1,598 children awaiting an ASD assessment and
WHSCT at 31/12/2024 there were 2,369 children awaiting an ASD assessment
Waiting lists for autism assessment remain a challenge. The Department acknowledges that this is not acceptable and can have a profound impact on mental health.
Department officials are working with colleagues from the Public Health Agency and Child Health to develop a regionally consistent and defined neurodevelopmental pathway for children and young people that complies with NICE guidelines.