Families across NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board area are facing unacceptable delays for children waiting for autism assessments.

The recommended timeframe under National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines is 12 weeks from referral to assessment.

Yet in our area:
Pre-COVID: 10 months
2023: 20 months
2025: 24 months
2026: 30 months

That is 2½ years for a child to receive an assessment.

This is not just a delay, it is lost support, lost understanding, increased mental health risk, school breakdowns, family stress, and children struggling without the help they are entitled to. 

My sons have been waiting over two years for an autism assessment, and with each passing day, the wait times keep getting longer. This is not just my story; it is the painful reality for countless families across Solihull and Birmingham. While some families can secure assessments within a year by paying privately, those who lack the financial means are left in uncertainty, unable to access the crucial early interventions that could make a significant difference in their children's lives.

The Integrated Care Board (ICB) has also taken the decision to unlawfully halt paediatric Right to Choose requests. This decision not only contradicts the lawful rights of parents but also places an added burden on families, creating an environment where parents feel they are failing their children due to systemic inefficiencies.

In Solihull, the average waiting time for an autism assessment via the NHS has now stretched beyond two and a half years . Early diagnosis is critical; it offers families the chance to access vital resources and support, shaping the future of children who need it most. This prolonged wait is a stark inequality—children with lesser financial means should not be deprived of their right to timely diagnostics and subsequent support.

The current system is failing our children miserably and it's time for change. We call upon the Solihull and Birmingham Integrated Care Board to take immediate action to shorten waiting times for autism assessments. This can be pursued by allocating more resources to hiring additional specialists, expanding assessment facilities, and adopting technology-driven solutions that streamline the process and action the neurodiverse pathway families have been waiting 5 years for. 

Such changes will not only help clear the existing backlog but also ensure more efficient, compassionate, and timely care for future cases. Families should not have to endure years of uncertainty and helplessness; every child deserves an equitable chance to succeed.

Sign this petition to demand the Solihull and Birmingham ICB reassess their approach to autism diagnostics. Together, we can strive for fair treatment and prompt action, ensuring every child receives the opportunity to thrive.