A politician who started a petition for more investment in autism services in Northern Ireland says that the £2 million the Department of Health has offered is not enough.
Councillor Kellie Armstrong, of the Alliance Party, spearheaded a petition with more than 8,000 signatures demanding change.
Health minister Simon Hamilton: “Despite the hard work of many dedicated professionals we are struggling to match pace with demand”
After the Department of Health responded by offering a £2 million injection, she said: “Whilst the £2 million going towards autism services can only be welcomed, the reality is it’s only a start.”
Councillor Armstrong added: “There is nothing in the Minister’s announcement about creating a more joined-up approach to working with the Department of Education to enable earlier intervention and an appropriate multi-disciplinary approach.”
She said the £2 million was “just a figure” until Northern Ireland’s Autism Act was enforced and waiting times dramatically reduced. She said: “Children with autism and other learning difficulties are still being consistently failed and no longer should we let it continue.”
The new funding will be used to create 35 posts across Northern Ireland in an effort to speed diagnosis and cut waiting lists. There was no mention of much-needed funding for the beleaguered adult services.
Backlog in Northern Ireland reaches 3,000
Nearly 3,000 children are now waiting to be seen. Health minister Simon Hamilton, who announced the funding, acknowledged that the figure is “unacceptable”.
He said: “Despite the hard work of many dedicated professionals we are struggling to match pace with demand.”
He added: “Many children and young people are waiting more than 13 weeks for an assessment. This is not acceptable and I am determined to get these waiting lists down.”
He said that the funding would help to pay for the expansion of autism-specific support services. It would also improve access to wider services such as speech and language therapy, community paediatrics and occupational therapy, child and adult mental health services and educational psychology.
Published: 18 February 2016
