MP calls on NHS trust to shorten wait for child autism assessments
ROTHERHAM MP Sarah Champion is urging an NHS Trust to cut waiting times for autism assessments, claiming an entire generation of children is at risk of being “left behind”.
In an open letter, the Labour MP said many local children have “faced lengthy delays” for assessments for autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders and these delays can be “hugely detrimental” to their development.
She said issues with the service, provided by Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH), have been “apparent for a number of years” and she is “concerned that little progress has been made in reducing waiting lists”.
She added: “These issues have been growing for some time and I am worried that, without a clear plan to address long waiting lists, the problem will only grow.
“I hope that RDaSH will take
these concerns seriously and do everything they can to deliver the high standard of care children in Rotherham deserve.”
After the trust’s last inspection in 2019, the Care Quality Commission found more than 1,200 children were waiting for an assessment and the list was growing, even though managers had “increased capacity through staff overtime and streamlined the assessment process to improve turnover”.
Christina Harrison, Children’s Care Group Director for RDaSH, apologised to the children and parents who have been waiting for an assessment.
She added: “In Rotherham three per cent of children have autism compared nationally to 1.5 per cent of the population and we are working hard with Rotherham Clinical Commissioning Group and Rotherham Council to look at how we can work together to reduce the waiting times.
“Using a multi-agency approach when each referral is received, we are ensuring that additional support services are being considered while the young person is awaiting assessment.
“We are also using some additional support from a digital partner agency.”