Children are waiting an average of 64 weeks for an autism diagnosis in Gateshead – however ambitions remain to reduce waits to under 20 weeks.
Figures from NHS North East and North Cumbria have revealed a drop in average waiting times for young children aged four and under receiving an autism diagnosis from 84 weeks in October 2024 to 64 in March 2025. The decrease has been attributed to improved “Joint Health and Education Panels” which come together and collect the relevant information for potential referrals.
Gateshead councillors were informed on Thursday afternoon however it is the ambition of the NHS to see the wait times fall further to just 18 weeks by March 2026. This is despite a general trend in increasing referrals.
In 2016, 88 children were referred for an autism diagnosis in Gateshead. The figure for 2024 stands at 253. According to the British Medical Association, there are around 700,00 people in the UK with an autism diagnosis. One in 100 children in the UK are also estimated to be on the autism spectrum.
In addition, there are currently 2,266 people in Gateshead, over the age of five, waiting for autism referrals, with 2,094 waiting over 18 weeks. This is attributed to a large number of cases being referred from local schools.
According to a report from the local NHS Trust, funding has been found to help with assessment capacity for older children. The Toby Henderson Trust has also been commissioned to provide more support to children and families who are waiting for diagnosis, particularly for children aged five-11 years old.
