TUV leader Jim Allister has expressed concern that the number of clinicians trained to diagnose autism is not sufficient to meet the department’s own target of a 13 week period for assessment from the date of referral. Moreover, the minister has no plans to recruit extra staff, meaning the failure will continue.
In a statement Jim Allister referred to three recent replies to him from the minister, confirming that currently there are 847 referrals in breach of the 13 week target. “This means 847 families waiting longer than the department promised to even be assessed. Given the need to address autism needs of pupils within our schools, the consequence is that autistic children, in terms of being statemented and helped, are suffering undue delays and loss.
“The needs of autistic children can be complex and varied, but if assessments are not being made expeditiously, then, these children are being failed. This, I believe, is an issue the Health minister needs to prioritise.”
The relevant Qs & As can be found here:-
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how often the target of a maximum thirteen week wait from referral to first assessment for autism has not been met in the last twelve months.
The Health and Social Care (HSC) Board collect aggregated waiting time data for initial assessments for autism, providing information on how many patients referred for an assessment have waited longer than thirteen weeks at the end of each month. Adding the month end figures together could lead to double counting of patients; therefore it is not possible to provide the figures in the format requested. However the board advise that the number of patients breaching the thirteen week target at 31 March 2015 was 847.
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how often the target of a maximum thirteen week wait from receipt of diagnosis of autism from the first assessment has not been met in the last twelve months.
In line with ministerial standards, the Health and Social Care Board monitor waiting times for the commencement of assessments for autism and the commencement of intervention post diagnosis. These figures are collected at the end of each month.
It is assumed that this question refers to those waiting more than thirteen weeks for intervention following a diagnosis of autism. Adding the month end figures together could lead to double counting; therefore it is not possible to provide the requested figure.
Figures at 31 March 2015 show that 170 children had been waiting longer than 13 weeks for intervention following a diagnosis of autism. This figure has been supplied by the HSC Board and has not been validated by the Department.
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many clinicians are trained to diagnose autism in each Health Trust and Social Care Trust; and whether this is sufficient to meet demand.
Answer:
The number of clinicians trained to diagnose autism in each Health and Social Care Trust is detailed in the table below. These posts cover both Diagnosis and Intervention Services.
|
TRUST |
NO OF TRAINED CLINICIANS (WTE) |
|
Belfast |
11 |
|
Northern |
11 |
|
South Eastern |
9 |
|
Southern |
23 |
|
Western |
14 |
|
TOTAL |
68 |
Childrens ASD Services (HSC Board)
The current number of clinicians trained to diagnose autism is not sufficient to meet overall demand. Given the significant increase in demand, additional Clinical Staff would be required to provide assessments or follow on care in line with the 13 week standard. However, given the current financial constraints no further investment has been identified to meet this need at present.