FOI 2025/1538

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I am requesting data regarding the waiting times for autism assessments for children. Please provide the following information for each year from 2015 – 2025 (I understand the 2025 data might not be ready yet!)
1. The number of referrals received for autism assessments for children (breaking down into age groups of 0-5 years, 5-10 years, and 10 years+)
2. The average waiting time from referral to assessment. Breaking down each stage of process from referral, initial consultation, diagnostic assessment and final report
3. The number of referrals that met NHS waiting time target (13 weeks)
Statistical question regarding the present day:
4. What is the longest recorded waiting time for an assessment in the past year?
5. The number of children currently on the waiting list
6. How much funding has been allocated to children’s autism assessments in each of the past 10 years?
7. What is the current staffing level for autism assessment teams?

1 – 5 & 7.

NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) does not hold the information requested. Any data relating to this aspect is held by individual NHS Provider Trusts or Right to Choose providers and would need to be requested directly from those organisations. This includes all Acute and Mental Health Trusts in Greater Manchester, as well as those that provide right to choose services under other ICB held contracts.

To assist you, please find below links to their websites with information about how to make a Freedom of Information request.

6. Funding for autism assessments is completed through block contracts, and is therefore not available as a single unit cost.