Oxfordshire Adults Face 18-Year Wait for Autism Assessments

Individuals seeking an autism diagnosis as adults could face a waiting period of up to 18 years for an assessment. The Oxfordshire Adult Autism Diagnostic and Support Service (OAADSS) ceased accepting new referrals in late November, citing the extensive length of its existing waiting list. According to documents reviewed by the BBC, the OAADSS has informed patients that assessments for those referred subsequent to July of the current year are not anticipated to occur before 2041. The Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB), which supervises adult autism diagnoses within the county, stated its efforts were focused on “find[ing] a solution” to address these protracted delays. Sarah’s son, aged 19, was recently referred to the OAADSS, only to be informed that the service’s waiting list was no longer open. “Unfortunately, we’ve met a bit of a dead end with the process already – as soon as it started, it stopped,” she conveyed to the BBC. Sarah’s son had initially been advised by his general practitioner that an assessment could take up to a year following referral to the diagnostic service. “A few days later, we received a letter from the surgery to say that they’ve just been informed that the clinic in Oxfordshire that performs the adult autism assessments has closed their books and has such a huge backlog that it’s going to take them 18 years to clear it.” “That’s almost his [Sarah’s son’s] age over again – he would be 37 by the time he could even pursue that option,” she remarked. Hayley, an Oxford resident, mentioned that her brother is presently on the waiting list and is scheduled for assessment in 2030, a timeframe she described as “just nuts.” “That’s a really long time in an adult’s life who’s already been struggling for many many years, to then have to wait even further,” she commented. Observing the extensive waiting periods for adults in Oxfordshire, Hayley opted to seek a private assessment utilizing the NHS’ Right To Choose Policy. This policy permits general practitioners to refer patients for specialized care, including ADHD or autism evaluations, at suitable private healthcare providers, with the NHS covering the associated expenses. “Knowledge is power – and if they’re empowered with the knowledge of what they can and can’t do, and what’s hard for them and how they can work through those challenges, that’s only got to be a positive thing,” she stated. However, Sarah expressed reservations about the policy, asserting that it was “essentially kicking us to a clinic that we don’t really know anything about.” In an official statement, the BOB ICB declared: “As commissioners of this service for adult patients we are aware of the organisation’s situation and are working with them to find a solution.” The care board further noted that the demand for autism assessments across the UK has “significantly increased” over recent years. “This rise is largely due to greater awareness and understanding of autism, leading more people to seek diagnoses,” the board appended.