With an estimated 750,000 people living with undiagnosed autism in the UK, a leading provider of transformational solutions to the health and social care sector has launched its own first dedicated autism assessment service to help stem the current delays in referrals and provide the best possible outcomes for those seeking a diagnosis.
With over 23 years’ experience of completing assessments of children, families and individuals and led by HCPC registered sector experts, Antser’s new Autism Assessment Hub provides high-quality autism assessments and tailored recommendations for both children and adults, within six to eight weeks.
More than 1 in 100 people in the UK are autistic. As of December 2023, the average NHS waiting time for an autism assessment in England was nine months for children and young people and over 10 months for adults from the time of referral – a 47 per cent increase from the previous year. A total of 86% of people awaiting assessment are waiting longer than NICE’s recommended 13 weeks, with some reporting delays of five or six years.
The launch of the hub reflects Antser’s dedication to supporting neurodivergent individuals and their families across the UK especially young people and females – who often mask or downplay behaviours during initial screenings – to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses.
It also reinforces Antser’s commitment to supporting the wider health sector to cope with demand. In the same way it has continuously driven quality and professionalism into family law assessments, it now plans to do the same in the neurodivergent space to ensure positive outcomes for all.
Debbie Roberts, Autism Assessment Hub’s Head of Neurodivergent Service, said: “The current delays on autism diagnoses can have profound impacts on individuals and their families, affecting access to necessary support and interventions. Our new Autism Assessment Hub will help make autism diagnosis easy, accessible and stress-free for people in and around Birmingham.
“We understand the importance of a supportive and thorough autism assessment journey and the critical importance of early diagnosis for neurodivergent conditions. Working with individuals and families, our expert approach will ensure they can start to take advantage of the multiple benefits of getting a diagnosis, from the personal to the professional.”
In its manifesto, Labour promised to make neurodivergent assessments available to all and without delay, which also recognises neurodivergent conditions in girls and women as well as in boys and men. Full assessments would also identify whether an individual has other, related conditions and to supply adequate support following a diagnosis.
Earlier this year, the former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care also announced the ‘Neurodivergent Conditions Screening, Teaching and Training Bill’, which gives primary school children the opportunity to be screened for neurodivergent conditions, highlighting the significance of early screening and support in a young person’s life.
Debbie added: “Early screening and support can significantly enhance the life chances of neurodivergent children. Identifying these conditions at an early stage ensures that appropriate support systems are put in place, helping children to thrive as they grow.”
The Autism Assessment Hub has a dedicated team of HCPC-certified clinicians who are committed to providing comprehensive and compassionate autism assessments to children and adults.
With a multidisciplinary team, it ensures the gold standard NICE guidelines are adhered to at every stage of the process. Offering a comprehensive approach to assessments, examining both present and historical symptoms and behaviours to gain a complete picture before concluding a final diagnosis.
Having launched in Birmingham, there are future plans to launch hubs across the UK to reach as many people as possible.
To find out how Antser’s Autism Assessment Hub works, please visit: https://www.autismassessmenthub.co.uk/how-it-works/
