112% surge in children waiting times in the West Midlands for autism assessment
A Birmingham mum tells us it stops children from getting early intervention.
Last updated 25th Sep 2024
The number of children in the West Midlands waiting more than 13 weeks for an autism screening has more than doubled since 2020.
That's according to new NHS data revealing almost 5,000 children under 17 are waiting a minimum of 13 weeks as opposed to 2,000 4 years ago.
There are now almost 5,000 children in the region who have to wait long amounts of time to be seen. That's a 111.99% increase over 4 years.
This impacts them resulting in children missing out on early intervention.
That's according to Birmingham mum Sabiha Aziz who's son Adam is autistic.
"The longer a child with autism is left undiagnosed, the less the impact of the interventions that are then put in, hence the importance of early intervention.
"The biggest message to get out there is there are huge contradictions here in terms of the knowledge that early interviention is so impactful and has such a positive impact on the child and their family."
Laura Free from Althea Soft who analysed the latest autism statistics report commented, “These delays not only hinder intervention but also place immense strain on children’s mental health and well-being.”
“It is imperative that healthcare systems, educational institutions, and policymakers work together to streamline processes, increase resources, and prioritise children's mental health and developmental needs.
“Many children are already experiencing increased anxiety and social isolation and without proper care and monitoring it will become harder to provide the care that these children desperately need and deserve.”