Getting an autism diagnosis in the UK can take a long time – sometimes even years. To help address this issue, a new Autism Assessment Hub has opened in Birmingham. This centre aims to provide faster, high-quality autism assessments for both children and adults.
About the new centre
The hub is run by Antser, a company with over 23 years of experience in health and social care. Assessments are completed within six to eight weeks, which is much faster than the current NHS average. As of December 2023, the average NHS waiting time for an autism assessment in England was nine months for children and young people and over 10 months for adults from the time of referral. Alarmingly, this represents a 47 per cent increase from the previous year.
The centre uses a team approach, with experts who understand autism in different age groups and genders. It's staffed by HCPC-registered clinicians who follow the gold standard NICE guidelines at every stage of the assessment process.
Why this matters
We are constanty learning more about autism. More than 1 in 100 people in the UK are autistic, and there are an estimated 750,000 people who may have undiagnosed autism. Early diagnosis can help people get the right support sooner. Currently, 86% of people awaiting assessment are waiting longer than NICE's recommended 13 weeks, with some reporting delays of five or six years.
Debbie Roberts, who leads the new service, says, 'We want to make autism diagnosis easy, accessible, and stress-free for people in and around Birmingham. Getting a diagnosis can have many benefits, both personally and professionally.'
The centre is particularly focused on supporting young people and females, who often mask or downplay behaviours during initial screenings. This approach ensures more accurate and timely diagnoses for these groups who might otherwise be overlooked.
Looking ahead
The centre hopes to open more locations across the UK to help as many people as possible. This expansion could significantly reduce waiting times for autism assessments nationwide.
Recent developments in autism awareness include Labour's manifesto promise to make neurodivergent assessments available to all without delay, and the former Health Secretary's announcement of the 'Neurodivergent Conditions Screening, Teaching and Training Bill'. This bill aims to provide primary school children the opportunity to be screened for neurodivergent conditions, highlighting the importance of early identification and support.
If you think you or a loved one might benefit from an autism assessment, you may want to discuss this new option with your GP. The Autism Assessment Hub offers an alternative to NHS services, potentially providing a quicker path to diagnosis and support.
