Anger over changes to ADHD and Autism assessment in North Yorkshire

Campaigners argue it means vulnerable people aren't getting the help they need

Author: Ellie KumarPublished 11th Aug 2023

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.

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