UK Autism Assessment Wait Times: North-South Divide
- Title: A Nation Divided: Northern Children Face Years-Long Wait for Autism Diagnosis
- A stark disparity in healthcare access is emerging across England, leaving children in the North waiting up to three years longer for an autism diagnosis than their southern...
- The data paints a grim picture: while children in Mid and South Essex experience an average wait of 54 days for an autism assessment - well within the...
Title: A Nation Divided: Northern Children Face Years-Long Wait for Autism Diagnosis
By Jennifer Chen, Chief Editor
A stark disparity in healthcare access is emerging across England, leaving children in the North waiting up to three years longer for an autism diagnosis than their southern counterparts. The shocking revelation comes from a new data analysis released by NHS England and highlighted in a report by the Child of the North initiative.
The data paints a grim picture: while children in Mid and South Essex experience an average wait of 54 days for an autism assessment – well within the National institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines of 13 weeks – those in South Yorkshire face a staggering 1,063-day wait. This means children in the North are waiting almost three years longer to recieve the support and understanding they need.
The report, titled “Autism Assessment and Support Update: The Crisis is Worsening,” reveals that only 4.5% of under-18s with an autism referral across England received an appointment within the recommended 13 weeks. This statistic underscores a nationwide crisis in autism assessment and support.
Adding another layer of complexity, the data exposes important disparities within communities.Girls of Pakistani heritage are 11 times less likely to receive an autism diagnosis than white boys of British heritage, raising serious questions about cultural biases and access to healthcare within specific communities.
The report also highlights a concerning trend: a 22% increase in referrals for ADHD assessments between June 2024 and 2025, further straining an already overburdened system.
Professor Mark mon-Williams, from the University of Leeds, who led the report, minced no words: “The autism assessment process was already in crisis in 2024-and our new report shows the situation is getting worse.This is not good enough and we need urgent change.”
In response to this escalating crisis, the Child of the North initiative has launched the #ChildrenFirst campaign, aiming to provide evidence-based solutions that can be implemented at the local level. The campaign seeks to foster a country that works for all children and young peopel, nonetheless of their location or background.
The campaign was launched at the national Opportunity Summit in Leeds,