As a resident of York and North Yorkshire and Managing Director of Living Autism, I am deeply concerned about the limitations to referrals for autism and ADHD diagnostic assessments which were imposed on our local GPs by the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.

We are calling for -

1. Accountability of Integrated Care Boards for funding decisions found to be discriminatory.
2. Adherence by GPs to the guidelines for autism and ADHD assessments published by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence).
3. Referrals for assessment to be screened by a trained professional and not an online screening tool.
4. GPs to use their own judgement to refer outside their own NHS-commissioned services through the NHS Right to Choose option without blocking by the Integrated Care Board for funding reasons.

Currently, crisis criteria are being imposed on GPs in determining a referral for assessment of either autism or ADHD. Solicitors have determined in a Legal Letter the current pathway to be discriminatory and, in parts unlawful, and can potentially cause mental health deterioration in adults. Research has shown autistic people and those with ADHD have a much higher rate of suicide than the general population.

This referral by crisis in itself can lead to ever-increasing crises with extra pressure on public resources and a negative impact on mental health.

The situation is urgent as the current practice not only violates the laws governing England but also puts at risk those who are most vulnerable. In its own reports, the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board recognises that "the right to an assessment and importance of a diagnosis is stated in the NHS National Framework" and yet, they have ignored this right without consequence.

It is crucial to ensure that any screening pathway complies with legal standards, is accessible to all individuals regardless of their mental health status, and operates independently from any mental health criteria allowing all adults who determine they are in need of a diagnosis to be referred for an assessment.

According to University College London (2023), there are around 750,000 undiagnosed autistic people aged 20 and above in England. If you include their families, autism touches the lives of 2.8 million people every day (Autism.org.uk). The prevalence rate for ADHD among adults aged 18-44 years was approximately 3.4% worldwide (American Psychiatric Association). These figures highlight how many individuals could potentially be affected by this issue.

We must act now to protect these individuals' rights and well-being by ensuring that they have access to fair and timely assessments which comply with English law.

Please sign this petition today to call for accountability of Integrated Care Boards in the pathways they choose for autism and ADHD diagnostic assessments, for these to be based on individual need and for GPs and trained professionals to carry out any screening required in the process.