Healthwatch York’s call comes after it published a new report that lays bare the struggles faced by autistic, dyslexic and dyspraxic people, as well as those with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) in the area.
The report details how there continues to be long wait times nationally for an ADHD, autism or dyspraxia diagnosis.
Its findings come after The Press reported that 6,270 patients in North Yorkshire and the Humber were waiting for an autism assessment last year, up from 5,290 in 2023, according to NHS England figures.
Of these, 81 per cent (5,110) had a referral that had been open at least 13 weeks. The NHS target is for every patient with a referral to receive a first appointment within 13 weeks.
The report says there must be change in schools to support neurodivergent children.
“We urge partners across York to work together to develop a neurodivergent schools charter,” it says.
“We acknowledge that funding will need to be found for this, and will reach out to local academic institutions to gauge appetite for working on this with us, neurodivergent families and local schools.
Recommended reading:
- ‘Nothing has changed’: almost 1,000 more patients still waiting for autism diagnosis
- ‘I feel very stressed’: parents of autistic children in York reveal heartache
- York patients 'abandoned' by lack of autism referrals
YOU’LL FIND MORE ON THIS STORY AND OTHERS AT www.yorkpressd.co.uk OR PICK UP YOUR COPY OF THE NEWSPAPER ITSELF AVAILABLE SIX DAYS A WEEK AT YOUR LOCAL NEWSAGENT
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