Child waited four and a half years for neurodevelopmental diagnosis
A child waited four and a half years for a neurodevelopmental diagnosis in one health board area, new data shows.
Figures obtained by the Scottish Liberal Democrats through freedom of information requests found that the longest wait for a neurodevelopmental diagnosis was 236 weeks in NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
Of the eight health boards which provided information about the longest wait time for a neurodiverse diagnosis for a child, three other health boards also recorded waits of more than three years.
Meanwhile,ofthefourhealth boards which responded to a request for the longest waits for an autism diagnosis for a child, NHS Fife recorded the longest wait at 142 weeks.
The Scottish Liberal Democratsarecallingonhealthsecretary Humza Yousaf to take actiontotackle"unacceptable" waiting times.
Leader Alex Cole-hamilton said:"forparentsandchildren who are waiting on a diagnosis
to open the door to support services these long waits will be depressingly familiar. The impact of waits of more than four years can reverberate for life.
"We owe it to our young people to ensure they get the supporttheyneed.gettingmental health support for young people is tricky enough at the best of times but for children with autism or neurodevelopmental conditions, a diagnosis can becrucialingettingsupportin other aspects of their life.
"Making them wait an inordinate length of time is unacceptable."
A Fife Health and Social Care Partnership spokeswoman said: "Fife Health and Social Carepartnershipandnhsfife are currently taking a range
of actions to reduce both the number and length of time children and young people are waiting for an assessment of autism.”
An NHS Ayrshire and Arran spokeswoman said: “Current pressures remain high across the whole health and care system in Ayrshire and Arran, including waiting times for specialist neurodevelopmental support.
“We recognise that there is a significant demand for specialist support. Working closely with our partners across all sectors, we are fully committed to ensure that those with the most urgent needs are assessed as quickly as possible, alongside those who have been waiting for the longest period.”