First reported 12 Mar 2022•Latest report 15 Jan 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures in healthcare or care-service arrangements that prevent people with complex neurodevelopmental needs, including autism or related developmental conditions, from accessing appropriate assessment, treatment, support or care; include exclusion from required services and persistent cultural, structural or systemic access barriers.
Not included
Excludes the existing concern specifically about the reliability of Care, Education and Treatment Reviews unless the assertion also identifies a broader failure to provide or access required care.
Excludes generic mental-health, physical-health or social-care access problems where complex neurodevelopmental needs are not a material qualifier.
Excludes isolated failures to provide a particular reasonable adjustment after access to appropriate care has otherwise been secured, unless the adjustment failure is itself the reason required care was inaccessible.
Excludes staffing, training, expertise or care-coordination deficiencies that do not directly leave people with complex neurodevelopmental needs without access to required care or treatment.
Reports
4
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
5
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2022–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
6
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Department of Health and Social Care2
Essex County Council1
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust1
NHS England1
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board1
NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board1
Integrated care board2
Ministerial department2
English county council1
Executive non-departmental public body1
NHS trust1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Failure to overcome cultural, structural and systemic barriers to physical healthcare for people with autism and complex mental health needs
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Roll out Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism for healthcare staff.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 16 January 2025.
Essex
Concerns raised1
Delayed diagnosis of autism
This report raised 12 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
The acknowledged shortcomings were not causation or contributory factors in Molly’s death.
Stated by Essex County CouncilDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
North Yorkshire and York
Concerns raised1
Failure to provide autism treatment in North Yorkshire
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Invest in expanding and transforming integrated community mental health services, including intensive and community support for autistic people and people with learning disabilities.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 27 September 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
The Integrated Care Board is responsible for commissioning North Yorkshire mental health services, rather than this respondent.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
TEWV is responsible for delivering mental health services and making autism-related reasonable adjustments under its contract.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
North East Kent
Concerns raised2
Exclusion of children with complex neurodevelopmental needs from required care and treatment
Diagnostic-only commissioning for children with autism and learning disabilities without an overt mental health diagnosis
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Establish and maintain a Dynamic Support Database for children and young people with complex learning disability and autism needs.
Stated by Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning GroupStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 March 2022.
Action
Invest £2.1 million in local neurodevelopmental services to improve provision for children and young people.
Stated by Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning GroupStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 March 2022.
Action
Work with NELFT to develop children’s mental health services and strengthen the service offer for children and young people.
Stated by Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning GroupStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 17 March 2022.
Action
Create joint posts across local authority and primary care to identify children with additional needs early and coordinate care rapidly.
Stated by Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning GroupStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 March 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
Kent local authority is responsible for undertaking assessments and providing services for children in need, including disabled children.
Stated by Department for EducationRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Commissioners are responsible for ensuring locally appropriate health and social care services, including services for people with complex needs.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
NELFT was commissioned to provide psychological and psychosocial interventions, not solely autism and learning-disability diagnostic services.
Stated by Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning GroupDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
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Includes failures in healthcare or care-service arrangements that prevent people with complex neurodevelopmental needs, including autism or related developmental conditions, from accessing appropriate assessment, treatment, support or care; include exclusion from required services and persistent cultural, structural or systemic access barriers.
