Minister admits ‘work needed' to improve neurodivergent support

The Herald Scotland

2 days ago

During a ministerial statement in the chamber on Thursday, Mr Arthur said: 'I recognise significant work is needed in this area.
"I do not underestimate how much work is needed to ensure that neurodivergent young people are able to access the support they need when they need it.
'This work will not happen overnight. It will require collaboration and a range of partners working together.'
'I recognise that a formal diagnosis can be important to an individual's identity and understanding of themselves or their child, however, support should be provided on a basis of need not diagnosis.'
Mr Arthur also said the government would provide £500,000 of additional funding this year to deliver improvements to the support and services available to children and families.
Earlier this week, the report, Experiences of Autism Assessment and Diagnosis in Scotland, surveyed 624 people and it paints a stark picture of delays, refusals, and a lack of support in the current system.
Scotland's autism organisations have since warned of a 'highly inconsistent' and 'failing' system with the report pointing to individuals waiting as long as seven years to receive an autism diagnosis.
Some 65% of the 624 respondents to the survey were autistic adults with 35% comprising of family members and carers of autistic people.
Of those surveyed, nearly two-thirds (62%) reported a lack of information about the process, including a lack of guidance and support.
Scottish Labour MSP also hit out at the government for what they named as its "Orwellian" response to the report.
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In his response, newly-appointed Wellbeing Minister Tom Arthur said accusations that the Scottish Government has 'removed' children from CAMHS waiting lists are false.
However, Mr Johnson hit back, saying people have been removed from waiting lists for referral.
"They have been removed," he told The Herald, "CAMHS may not be the right service, but they haven't specified what is the right service.
"Right now it is impossible, either as a matter of policy or a matter of fact, to get an assessment for autism or ADHD as a child or adult.
"Health boards have either stopped taking referrals or have such long waits they might as well have.
'It is Orwellian [from the Government]. To say it is false, just on a strict measurement, it is a fact."
Today, Mr Arthur re-iterated his comments that they were "incorrect assertions" that young people are being moved off waiting lists to meet CAMHS waiting times targets.
However, Scottish Labour MSP Paul Sweeney said he was "dismayed" at this statement from the minister as he said "it's a matter of fact not assertion".
"Children get removed off the CAMHS list to different pathways with often indefinite waiting times.
"It's struck me as a bit of Orwellian Double Think."
'Some children are still waiting too long to receive the support they need.'
Data on neurodevelopmental diagnostic waiting times is currently not publicly available.
In the chamber, the minister admitted 'further work is needed' to improve the quality of data in this area.
Conservative MSP Brian Whittle accused the Scottish Government of 'cherry-picking and manipulating' data to 'fit their narrative'.
Later, the party's public health spokesperson added: 'This SNP government are not being honest with the public and families over why there has been such a massive increase in demand for diagnosis in such a short period of time.
'In typical SNP fashion they have failed to be transparent over the data.
'It is a disgrace that fewer than a third of children were seen for a neurodevelopmental assessment within the recommended timescales in March 2024.
'The SNP government must do more to support children with neurodevelopmental disorders by providing more resources to support activities in communities up and down the country.'
The new taskforce on improving neurodivergent support for young people will be chaired jointly by Fiona Davis, chief executive of NHS Highland and Dr. Lynne Binnie, Edinburgh Council's head of Education for Inclusion.