Anger over changes to ADHD and Autism assessment in North Yorkshire
Campaigners argue it means vulnerable people aren't getting the help they need
Campaigners in North Yorkshire say they're horrified that some adults are being refused an assessment for Autism or ADHD.
Health bosses have been running a trial meaning only certain patients are put forward - for example if you are considered "at risk of immediate self harm or harming others".
"My ADHD assessment saved my life"
Carla Morris was diagnosed two years ago: "That assessment saved my life, now under the current restrictions I would not be eligible for assessment despite the fact that I was diagnosed with moderate to severe ADHD and now I can't imagine going back to my life pre diagnosis because it was very different."
"I was constantly going from job to job, because I would either constantly be late, I would need days off because I would be exhausted and wouldn't understand why. So I had all this potential and that was the message my whole life, you have so much potential but not understanding why I couldn't meet it."
"One of the reasons why I am fighting this so hard, it because of so easily been me, and I can see and appreciate how much my diagnosis has changed my life and improved my quality of life."
A crowding funding page has been launched to try challenge the pilot in court.
Healthwatch York have also commissioned their own report into how the pilot is impacting people.
A spokesperson for NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) told us:
• The waiting list for ADHD and autism assessments had been growing faster than we could see patients.
• Unfortunately waiting times are currently in years rather than months.
• We wanted to pilot changes so we could see more patients – and prioritise those people with the greatest need.
• The profiler we've been piloting means people who are referred for assessment have already provided a lot of the information that's needed, meaning there's quicker diagnosis and the capacity to therefore help more people.
• Everyone who registers with the platform is now given the opportunity to remain on a triage waiting list and, based on their needs, is either referred for an assessment or offered/signposted to appropriate relevant support whilst they wait.
• We don’t know if demand will start to stabilise, but if it does, and we start getting more people through their assessments, then the waiting list time should come down.
• But at this moment, we need to continue to see people based on priority, rather than the overall time they have been waiting.
• We would of course want to move towards seeing everyone who needs an assessment as soon as we can.