In a controversial move that has raised alarm among parents and advocacy groups, NHS Tayside has announced it will stop assessments and diagnoses for autism and ADHD. This decision, made public last month, has been described as "dangerous" by parents who fear their children will not receive the necessary support.
The health board cited long waiting lists as the primary reason for halting referrals through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). While young people with a pre-existing mental health condition will still have access to assessments for autism and ADHD, families seeking support will now be directed to online groups and alternative services.
Donna Ploatner, whose youngest son was diagnosed with autism at five, expressed her concerns regarding her son’s ADHD assessment. "I think it’s more probably going to be around supports for medication that he will really struggle to access without us going down the private route," she said. Ploatner noted that while some parents have gone the private route for diagnoses, many families cannot afford such expenses, which can lead to disparities in care.
Ruth Alexander, another concerned parent, spent over £4,000 on a private diagnosis for her daughter. "The general feeling is it’s just a short-sighted move, and it’s storing up problems for the future," she told STV News. "Young people who did not have pre-existing mental health conditions will develop them as a direct result of this, and that feels really foolish. It’s dangerous."
Since NHS Tayside's announcement, local charities have reported a surge in inquiries from parents seeking help. Angie Ferguson from Perth Autism Support stated, "None of us are disputing the fact the neurodevelopmental pathway is not mental health and doesn’t necessarily sit very neatly within a CAMHS service. However, there could have been an alternative or plans for how that’s going to be offered in a different way before the announcement was made."
In response to the backlash, NHS Tayside clarified that they are still accepting referrals but have "refined" the criteria for the neurodevelopmental pathway. A spokesperson emphasized that the changes aim to ensure that the highest-risk children and young people with mental health conditions receive timely and effective services.
"It is accepted that this change may cause distress and concern for some families," the spokesperson acknowledged. They also mentioned that a short life working group has been formed to explore new care pathways for neurodevelopmental needs and that a meeting with local authorities and Scottish Government representatives is scheduled for early May.
Meanwhile, a separate but related development is emerging within the NHS regarding transgender youth. The NHS is set to propose a new plan that requires transgender youth to undergo screening for autism and ADHD before they can access gender-affirming medical care. This proposal is part of a new division called the “Children and Young People’s Gender Service.”
According to a draft of the proposed plan reviewed by The Telegraph, gender-dysphoric young people would first be screened for neurodevelopmental conditions. This screening will involve a general mental state examination, which includes assessing mood, anxiety, emotional regulation, and other psychological factors.
If screenings indicate the presence of conditions such as autism, a referral to the Paediatric Neurodevelopmental Service may be necessary before any gender-affirming care can be provided. Critics of this plan argue that it pathologizes two vulnerable groups—trans youth and autistic individuals—by imposing additional barriers to care.
The new proposal follows the controversial Cass Review, which recommended that undiagnosed autism be considered a common denominator among many trans young people. This review has faced significant criticism from advocates and medical experts who label its methods and conclusions as fundamentally flawed.
In addition to the proposed screenings, the U.K. government has also placed a ban on puberty blockers for trans youth, with no new prescriptions approved for over a year. Current waitlists for gender identity clinics extend from eight months to over eight years, exacerbating the challenges faced by young people in need of timely care.
As of 2024, the wait time for pediatric autism assessments through the NHS was reported to be over two years. In a stark example of bureaucratic hurdles, 17-year-old Damien Dalmayne shared his experience of being unable to access mental health therapy for depression after being diagnosed with autism. His urgent referral was redirected to a local team that was unable to assist him, forcing him to seek private therapy.
In light of these developments, the LGBT+ Liberal Democrats released a statement condemning the NHS's proposal to test trans kids for autism. They described it as an attempt to undermine the bodily autonomy of both trans and autistic individuals, calling for a reevaluation of the proposed plan.
As these issues unfold, parents, advocacy groups, and healthcare professionals continue to voice their concerns about the implications of these changes on vulnerable populations. The situation remains fluid, with many awaiting the outcomes of upcoming meetings and consultations regarding the future of care for neurodivergent and transgender youth.
