Current status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 31 October 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication in 2014 of Autism Spectrum Disorders: Waiting for assessment - Executive Summary, what the current waiting times are for diagnosing children with autism spectrum conditions, and whether the targets set out in The Scottish Strategy for Autism are being met.
The Scottish Government is committed to meeting the needs of children with autism. We want all children and young people to be diagnosed early.
Whilst reducing waiting times is a priority, the Scottish Strategy for Autism does not set out targets for waiting times. An assessment of waiting times was undertaken and improvements were identified to support services to redesign pathways and process to reduce waits.
Information on waiting times is not held centrally. Information Services Division does not collect Autism Spectrum Disorders waiting times information. Information Services Division receives waiting times information from NHS boards for all referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services but this is not broken down by condition.
We will continue to build on the work that the strategy has achieved in order to further support the needs of children with autism.