A group of parent campaigners has started legal action to fight a decision to offer autism assessments only to at-risk children.
Assess for Autism has crowdfunded its legal challenge to the move by the Integrated Care Board (ICB) of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire and the not-for-profit local care firm Sirona.
Assess for Autism campaigner Fiona Castle is fighting moves to offer autism assessment only to at-risk children
The campaigners have sent a letter before action to the ICB and Sirona. The letter outlines the legal claim and allows them to settle the matter.
Assessments reserved
Assessments are now reserved for children on the verge of losing their school place, where there is a risk of family breakdown and where they are in care or on a child protection plan.
Other children are taking priority, too. They are:
- Those undergoing treatment by child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)
- Those presenting a risk to themselves or others
- Those involved in youth offending
- Others with very poor communication skills.
‘Better long-term outcomes’
Fiona Castle is a member of Assess for Autism and has an 11-year-old son with the condition.
In a statement, Castle said “timely assessment can lead to better long-term outcomes for autistic children and their families”.
She added that the campaigners would “continue to support local families who wish to legally challenge Sirona’s actions”.
Policy change ‘contravenes guidelines’
Castle also maintains that the policy change is “not only potentially unlawful, but directly contravenes NHS and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines”.
By the time of this story’s publication, Assess for Autism had raised £5,590 on its CrowdJustice page for its legal fight.
The ICB and Sirona insist they have been forced to ration access to autism assessments because there has been a 350 per cent rise in demand.
In a statement, the ICB and Sirona said the letter before action is being considered and they would “be responding directly to the sender.”
Related:
- South-West restricts autism assessments
- ‘Travesty’ of four-year diagnosis
- Self-harm crisis of delays in diagnosis
- Discrimination in restricting diagnosis
- Test reveals anxiety as second diagnosis
- New test heralds early autism diagnosis
- Delays in diagnosis deny new therapy
Published: 21 April 2023
