Aberdeenshire to look at developing in-house ADHD and Autism assessment system

Aberdeenshire Integrated Joint Board (IJB) has voted to look at establishing its own in-house system for ADHD and Autism assessments.

Plans were put forward at the board meeting on Wednesday to cease the assessments altogether in a bid to save £200,000 as part of a wider £17million savings package.

Documents detailing the plans stated that in Aberdeenshire, around 1,000 adults are currently waiting to be assessed for ADHD and a further 800 adults are awaiting an autism assessment.

The report also provided evidence that autistic adults are 9 times more likely to die by suicide and autistic women are 13 times more likely.

The proposals sparked concern and a petition was launched by campaigners to stop the cuts which has gained more than 1,000 signatures in a week.

Develop own assessment system

Members at the meeting stressed they had received many communications from people concerned about the end of the service.

It was suggested that instead of ending the assessment pathway altogether, Aberdeenshire could develop its own in-house scheme for ADHD and autism assessments at a cost of £80,000.

This option would be for at least six months and in the meantime, the IJB will write to the Scottish Government to explain its funding situation.

It was also instructed that the board writes to NHS Grampian to ask if it would consider accepting private assessments.

On Tuesday, Chief Executive at charity A-ND, Billy Alexander, spoke to Northsound 1 about the complications around getting a private assessment.

He explained it can sometimes only be affordable for some and is often not accepted in sectors like education, social care and health care.

Partnership manager for North Aberdeenshire, Jeff Shaw, reassured the board that the current waiting list would be sustained while plans are drawn up for an in-house assessment service.

He added it will not speed up the pace of the assessment period or the waiting list however, it would "give the public an assurance that nobody will be lost from the waiting list."

A plan will be put forward at the next meeting on March 19.

Concerns raised

Chief Executive at Autism and Neurodiversity (A-ND), Billy Alexander, said on Tuesday he was hugely concerned about the cuts and the added pressure it would have on third sector organisations.

He said: "I don't know any organisation currently that's not under financial pressure, budget constraints, financial cuts - third sector are already under-resourced and underfunded and we are stretched to capacity.

"Our own waiting lists are closed because we can't meet the demand.

"And also when we request further support from local authorities and funders we are denied that, so there is no more in the pot there for us, there is no more in the tank that we can give.

"We are really stretched and concerned about what's going on."

Mr Alexander also highlighted the long waits people are facing with some facing waits of up to ten years.

Scottish Autism also wrote to Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership urging them to reject the cuts.

Scottish Autism's Director of Practice and Innovation, Joe Long, has written to Aberdeenshire HSCP's Chief Officer, said there was deep concern around the proposals to cancel assessments.

He said: "Removing assessment and diagnostic services will leave even fewer options for neurodivergent adults looking for support. It may mean that people are forced to seek private assessment, if they are able to afford it, or may be directed to mental health services by health professionals instead.

"None of this will be beneficial to people seeking a diagnosis, or to the wider health and social care system. We urge the Integrated Joint Board to reject proposals to cut these services"

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