A report, published by Healthwatch Stoke-on-Trent, shows that children in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire are waiting almost two years for an Autism assessment. There is also a hidden waiting list; the time from first referral to assessment is not included in these figures and can be years. One parent told Healthwatch “The waiting list may not seem too bad, but it doesn't count the years waiting to be put on a waiting list.”
In line with national trends, the number of children being referred for an Autism assessment is increasing. Last year, 1760 children were referred to North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, compared to 416 in 2018. This demand is overwhelming a service that is under-funded.
