Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has had discussions with pediatricians on trends in the number of young children diagnosed with (a) autism and (b) ADHD.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has regular discussions on a wide range of matters with a wide range of people, including clinical staff.

Data on numbers of diagnoses for autism is not held centrally. However, data on referrals for assessment shows that the number of patients aged between zero and 17 years old with an open suspected autism referral in September 2023 was 91,729, which is an increase of 56% since September 2022, and an increase of almost 700% since April 2019, when data collection began. Data on children and young people in this dataset is expected to be an underestimate. Caution should be used when interpreting these statistics since they are experimental statistics.

In respect of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), there is currently no single, established dataset that can be used to monitor waiting times for assessment and numbers of diagnoses nationally. Although data is not held centrally, it may be held locally by individual National Health Service trusts or commissioners. We are exploring options to improve data collection and reporting on ADHD assessment waiting times to help improve access to ADHD assessments in a timely way and in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. The National Institute for Health and Care Research has commissioned a research project to provide initial insights into local ADHD assessment waiting times data collection. NHS England is also currently scoping a national programme of work on ADHD.