Unmet needs
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline notes that autism may be under-recognized and under-diagnosed in girls and children and young people with a learning disability.
Studies of autism in adults have shown that up to 80% of people have experienced a difficulty in obtaining a diagnosis, and many adults will not have received a formal diagnosis.
In North Tyneside, there were 760 patients aged 18 and over with an open suspected autism referral in the month (September 2023) that has been open for at least 13 weeks.
As of July 2024, Child and Mental Health Services (CAMHS) have 597 waiting, and the longest wait is 72 weeks.
As of April 2024, for adults, there was an open caseload of 2,508 and 91% of these (1,809) were waiting more than 18 weeks.
In 2021 the National Autistic Society state that more than two in three autistic adults do not get the support they need and only 14% said they had enough mental health services in their area.
The North Tyneside Autism strategy acknowledged there are some perceived concerns from individuals and their families in accessing an Autism Diagnosis.