Adult Autism Pathway to Diagnosis and Assessment

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Dear North East London NHS Foundation Trust,

As per Statutory guidance for Local Authorities and NHS organisations to support implementation of the Adult Autism Strategy published March 2015:

1. What is NELFT's pathway to diagnosis and assessment for adults? If there are different pathways for each geographical area, please provide the pathway for the area that would include Hornchurch.

2. Who is NELFT's Lead Health Professional for adults with autism?

As per the above Statutory Guidance, NICE Quality Standard on Autism (QS51) should be promoted as best practice. QS51 states that people seeking an autism diagnosis should have a first appointment within 3 months of referral.

3. What is NELFT's average time between referral and first appointment for adults seeking diagnosis in the past 12 months? Please break this down by:
A) Entire Trust
B) Hornchurch area

4. Within NELFT, what proportion of adults referred for diagnosis have their first assessment appointment within 3 months in the past 12 months? Please break this down by:
A) Entire Trust
B) Hornchurch area

5. How many adults have been referred for diagnosis in the past 12 months within NELFT? Please break this down by:
A) Entire Trust
B) Hornchurch area

6. How many adults have been diagnosed with autism in the past 12 months within NELFT? Please break this down by:
A) Entire Trust
B) Hornchurch area

The Statutory Guidance mentioned above states that "GPs, as the gatekeepers to diagnostic services, have adequate training specifically in autism beyond general awareness training ... and a good understanding of the whole autistic spectrum and the diagnostic pathway that has been developed in their area."

7. Have all GP surgeries in Hornchurch in particular been informed of the NELFT diagnostic pathway for adults? How is this information shared?

8. What training is given to GPs by NELFT to ensure that their knowledge of both autism and the diagnostic pathway is adequate as per the Stautory Guideline?

Yours faithfully,

Liefie Merwe

Jethwa Jaina, North East London NHS Foundation Trust

2 Attachments

Dear Liefe

Thank you for your request. Please find attached our response.

Kind regards

Jaina Jethwa
Information Governance, Data Protection & FOI Manager
NELFT
Goodmayes Hospital
Information Governance Team
Barley Lane
Ilford. Essex. IG3 8XJ

Internal Dial: 64425
External Dial: 0300 555 1201 Ext: 64425
Fax: 0844 931 0105

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