First reported 1 Oct 2019•Latest report 5 Feb 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures in autism-assessment access and provision, including prolonged waiting lists, insufficient assessment capacity, inconsistent eligibility or age-threshold arrangements, unclear referral routes and delays that prevent timely autism assessment or diagnosis.
Not included
Excludes delays or deficiencies in mental-health assessment, treatment or detention where autism assessment is not the material concern.
Excludes failures in autism-informed care, reasonable adjustments or specialist support after autism has been assessed or diagnosed.
Excludes generic diagnostic delays and assessment-capacity shortages without an explicit autism-assessment connection.
Excludes neutral descriptions of autism prevalence, diagnostic practice or service activity where no unsafe access or timeliness condition is asserted.
Reports
7
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
7
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2019–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
25
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 Care4
NHS England3
Department for Education1
Essex County Council1
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust1
Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership1
Health Centre1
Hertfordshire County Council1
NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board1
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board1
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board1
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board1
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust1
Walsall Borough Council1
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust1
Integrated care board4
Ministerial department4
NHS trust4
Executive non-departmental public body3
English county council2
English metropolitan district council1
Health-system partnership1
Multi-service care provider1
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.
West London
Concerns raised1
Unacceptably long waits for ASD and ADHD referrals, assessments and diagnoses
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.5
Action
Commission additional private-provider capacity for adult autism diagnostic assessments.
Stated by West London NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 February 2026.
Action
Monitor delivery and waiting lists through robust monitoring and quality-assurance measures.
Stated by West London NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 February 2026.
Action
Streamline and improve internal adult autism assessment pathways.
Stated by West London NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 10 February 2026.
Action
Agree with commissioners that adult autism assessment capacity will be augmented.
Stated by West London NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 February 2026.
Action
Invest in training professionals in autism and ADHD diagnostic assessment.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 February 2026.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
Adult ADHD assessments are outside the Trust’s commissioned remit, so it cannot respond on this matter.
Stated by West London NHS TrustOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Responsibility for adult ADHD assessments rests with the North West London Integrated Care Board as commissioner.
Stated by West London NHS TrustRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Integrated care boards are responsible for providing appropriate local autism services in line with relevant NICE guidelines.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Black Country
Concerns raised1
Lack of clear national guidance on autism assessment
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.3
Action
Produce national framework and operational guidance requiring access to autism assessments for people of all ages.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 20 January 2026.
Action
Maintain an established pathway for assessing children under five.
Stated by Walsall Healthcare NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 20 January 2026.
Action
Provide an established autism pathway for children under five.
Stated by Walsall Healthcare NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 20 January 2026.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
National autism assessment guidance exists and does not impose a minimum assessment age.
Stated by NHS EnglandDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Existing under-five and autism pathways are relied on alongside national guidance to address concerns about unclear autism diagnostic guidance.
Stated by Walsall Healthcare NHS TrustExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Hertfordshire
Concerns raised1
Lengthy waiting times for ASD assessments in Hertfordshire
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.7
Action
Continue supporting local systems to implement national autism assessment, mental health, and suicide prevention guidance across commissioned services.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 17 April 2025.
Action
Use pathways involving a wider range of clinical and non-clinical staff specialisms to support diagnosis.
Stated by NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 17 April 2025.
Action
Implement a standardised and consistent referral and triage process.
Stated by NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 17 April 2025.
Action
Develop a new referral front door to improve referral quality, information collation, follow-up and data collection.
Stated by NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 17 April 2025.
Action
Establish a combined clinical triage and assessment pathway across NHS provider trusts to optimise clinical resources.
Stated by NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 17 April 2025.
Action
Develop a care coordinator role to support families through the clinical pathway and keep them informed of progress.
Stated by NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 17 April 2025.
Action
Provide additional funding and baseline future provider funding to support development of the neurodiversity assessment model.
Stated by NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 17 April 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
National guidance requires mental-health support and interventions to continue while people await autism assessment, addressing risks from diagnostic delays.
Stated by NHS EnglandExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board is responsible for delivering local autism assessment pathway improvements and providing further information on them.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Long ASD assessment waits are expected to remain without wider national support because demand continues to rise.
Stated by NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care BoardUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised1
Insufficient capacity for autism assessments
This report raised 2 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.3
Action
Commission autism intensive support and autism diagnostic services from Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Stated by NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly integrated care board (ICBStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 14 May 2024.
Action
Develop a plan with partners to address unmet local demand for autism assessments.
Stated by NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly integrated care board (ICBStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 14 May 2024.
Action
Implement contractual changes with alternative autism-assessment providers to ensure consistent provision.
Stated by NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly integrated care board (ICBStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 14 May 2024.
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 including North Yorkshire Western District
Concerns raised1
Lack of local specialist autism assessment and adapted psychological therapy
This report raised 9 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.7
Action
Audit individual funding referrals to identify demand for autism-related therapy and inform service planning.
Stated by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 April 2022.
Action
Hold learning events with TEWV and service users to inform autism-related therapy commissioning and delivery.
Stated by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 27 April 2022.
Action
Consider how autism-related services should be commissioned and delivered in future.
Stated by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 27 April 2022.
Action
Examine immediate and interim arrangements for autism-related therapy in light of the Regulation 28 notice and service-user discussions.
Stated by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 27 April 2022.
Action
Examine patients with autism and EUPD/BPD diagnoses to assess diagnostic validity, communication, withdrawal, reasonable adjustments and tailored therapeutic options.
Stated by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 27 April 2022.
Action
Support projects testing improvements to autism diagnostic pathways.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 27 April 2022.
Action
Use project learning and research to inform guidance and support for improved autism diagnostic assessments.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 April 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
Position
TEWV is responsible for delivering core mental health care and making reasonable adjustments for patients with autism.
Stated by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care BoardRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
In North Yorkshire, autism assessment and support are commissioned from services outside the Trust.
Stated by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation TrustRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Autism assessment and support in North Yorkshire are commissioned from services external to the Trust.
Stated by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation TrustRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Specialist autism assessment and adapted psychological interventions require individual funding and are usually delivered by The Retreat.
Stated by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation TrustRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Long waiting lists for autism assessments
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.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Pin
Get email alerts
Request correction
Includes failures in autism-assessment access and provision, including prolonged waiting lists, insufficient assessment capacity, inconsistent eligibility or age-threshold arrangements, unclear referral routes and delays that prevent timely autism assessment or diagnosis.
