Over the last few years, demand for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments in England has risen at such speed that services are unable to keep up.
This increase in demand is partly due to more widespread awareness of autism and ADHD, as well as the impact of Covid-19 on people’s mental health and wellbeing.
In the past two years, the Kent and Medway area has seen a rapid 600 per cent increase in demand for adult ADHD services. This is a national issue and waiting lists for a specialist assessment with the adult ADHD service can take several years.
In Kent and Medway, some children and adults are waiting many years for an assessment and not getting the support they need. We therefore need to prioritise people with the greatest need when offering appointments.
Giving priority to those who need it most
Every child is reviewed by a clinical professional when they are referred to the waiting list. Some children will have a greater need for an assessment so they will be seen sooner than others.
Some children will have already been seen by other services, or they have other conditions, so we already know they need to be seen as quickly as possible.
We also have a legal requirement to prioritise some children. For example, children who have parents in the Armed Forces, or who have a residential placement in school or a fostering placement at risk of breaking down will be prioritised for an assessment. Children under five years old who are non-verbal, or who have other conditions, will also be prioritised.
Adults waiting for reviews of their ADHD medication by the specialist service are being prioritised alongside those waiting for an autism assessment.
Waiting times
There are more than 9,000 children and young people waiting for an autism assessment in Kent and Medway, meaning children could wait between three to four years for an assessment. More than 4,000 are waiting for an ADHD assessment with a wait time of around a year.
There are nearly 12,000 adults waiting for an ADHD assessment, with the longest wait up to seven years and 2,100 adults waiting for an autism assessment, which is a wait of up to three years. Waits for medication reviews and post-diagnostic support are up to two years.
Support without a diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis is not the only route to support and many people will not need an assessment if they can access appropriate support at the right time.
NHS Kent and Medway is working with NHS providers, Kent County Council, Medway Council, families, carers, voluntary and community sector organisations and people with lived experience to change the way health, social care and education professionals support people who may be neurodivergent.
We are looking at new ways of working together and are creating a central place online for the resources available to help you.
New ways of working with GP surgeries are being developed and we are rolling out projects in schools which will help families to access support in the community. If successful, these projects will be scaled up to support people across Kent and Medway.
We are also testing new ways of supporting adults who are on the waiting list for an assessment. This means they get support that meets their needs, rather than waiting for a diagnosis. It includes app-based support, online workshops and facilitated peer support sessions. Feedback has been positive about this support offer which we are working to make available to more people over the coming months.
Help and support is available now
Children and young people in Kent can access support services via the Kent Local Offer.
Children and young people in Medway can access support services via the Medway Local Offer.
Adults with ADHD can visit ADHD information and support services.
Adults with autism can visit autism information and support services.