c) Improved consistency, monitoring and governance. The medical diagnosis needs assessment and support offered must cover all co-occurring and sensory issues. Governance - Children and Young People In developing an Autism Diagnostic Pathway we took into account the feedback from a survey carried out by the Hertfordshire Parent Carer Involvement (HPCI), which highlighted a number of concerns with current service provision including: delays and difficulties in getting a diagnosis and assessment inaccessibility of appropriate services; difficulty getting information; getting services to work together getting a good education for academically able children parents’ feedback that they had to to get services and the lack of ‘battle’ service integration were key issues A Clinical Reference Group (CRG) was set up with representation from all existing providers and specialities across the autism pathway including Paediatricians, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Adult Psychiatrists, Speech and Language Therapists, GP, Commissioners from Health, Early Help, and Special Educational Needs and Disability. The Clinical Reference Group discussed Autism diagnosis. It is envisaged that these pathways will inform the development of a wider neurodevelopmental pathway. Recent data state the longest waiting times for a diagnostic assessment is 18 months. NICE guidelines state that the Autism Diagnostic Assessment should begin within 3 months of referral. In 2011 were an estimated 3,435 children and young people with autism living in Hertfordshire. From the Spring School Census data in 2011, there was an average prevalence of 0.7% children with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum but significant variation across different districts (see Figure 1 below).
c) Improved consistency, monitoring and governance. The medical diagnosis needs assessment and support offered must cover all co-occurring and sensory issues. Governance - Children and Young People In developing an Autism Diagnostic Pathway we took into account the feedback from a survey carried out by the Hertfordshire Parent Carer Involvement (HPCI), which highlighted a number of concerns with current service provision including: delays and difficulties in getting a diagnosis and assessment inaccessibility of appropriate services; difficulty getting information; getting services to work together getting a good education for academically able children parents’ feedback that they had to ‘battle’ to get services and the lack of service integration were key issues A Clinical Reference Group (CRG) was set up with representation from all existing providers and specialities across the autism pathway including Paediatricians, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Adult Psychiatrists, Speech and Language Therapists, GP, Commissioners from Health, Early Help, and Special Educational Needs and Disability. The Clinical Reference Group discussed Autism diagnosis. It is envisaged that these pathways will inform the development of a wider neurodevelopmental pathway. Recent data state the longest waiting times for a diagnostic assessment is 18 months. NICE guidelines state that the Autism Diagnostic Assessment should begin within 3 months of referral. In 2011 were an estimated 3,435 children and young people with autism living in Hertfordshire. From the Spring School Census data in 2011, there was an average prevalence of 0.7% children with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum but significant variation across different districts (see Figure 1 below).
autism-strategy-scrutiny-report-2018-full-version.docx