Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
4,500 KIDS WAIT ON AUTISM HELP
MLAS demand health’s Swann acts to get children treatment
ALMOST 4,500 children in Northern Ireland are waiting for an autism assessment.
The figure was revealed to a Stormont committee where Health Minister Robin Swann was urged to create a longer-term autism strategy.
Calls were made to him to address the dire need of families of children and adults on the neuro divergent spectrum and to look to the future of burgeoning numbers of cases.
A motion by Sinn Fein’s Colm Gildernew for action on waiting times was met with unanimous agreement.
Mr Swann pledged to create a strategy which he says must include a reduction in waiting times for assessments, giving parents a better chance of early intervention. The news was welcomed by Autism NI chief Kerry Boyd. She said: “The waiting times for an autism diagnosis are completely unacceptable.
“It is hard to believe there are some families waiting over two years to gain an assessment for their child and similarly adults are waiting up to four years for an assessment. With a private diagnosis, families and individuals are able to access supports straight away.
“No family should be at a disadvantage due to their economic status. However, this is what the rise in private diagnosis is causing.”
Belfast mum Alana Patterson has two autistic children and has battled to get them the help needed.
She said, “My daughter, Isla, who is seven was diagnosed at four years old through the Trust after being on the waiting list for 18 months.
“Isla was receiving outside help in school until the pandemic hit and then that was stopped with no help or support put in place for her.
“Whilst I fully understand the seriousness of the pandemic my child did not and suffered massively. My son Lincoln was diagnosed privately last week as waiting lists are so long. So far, I have had to spend thousands on my children and I’m fortunate I have had help from my family. But I know many parents who are at breaking point because they cannot afford to do the same, and it’s heart-breaking.”
Ulster Unionist Alan Chambers told MLAS: “It’s clear autism services, like so many other services, fell victim to a decade long period of underinvestment and lack of strategic direction. I know the Minister is acutely aware of the issues raised by this motion and the debate today. I am confident he will be doing all within his power to seek improvement in delivery of autism services.”
For the quarter ending December 2020, 1,010 children in all six health trusts were referred for a diagnosis.
Of those, 623 are still waiting to be seen and 387 kids were diagnosed.
In the same period, 4,495 children were waiting are currently waiting.
Of those 1,457 had been waiting for over a year in the Belfast, Northern and Western Trusts.
Other families reported facing a wait of two and a half years or paying £1,400 to a private clinic.