To ask the Minister of Health to detail how his Department ensures that individuals who receive a private autism diagnosis have access to the same supports and services as those diagnosed through Health and Social Care Trusts.

Health and Social care Trusts follow the Integrated Elective Access Protocol (IEAP), to manage autism referrals. IEAP is a regional guidance document issued by the DHSSPS, updated in June 2020.

The purpose of the Protocol is to define the roles and responsibilities of all those involved in the elective pathway, to set out how data should be recorded and reported, and to outline good practice to assist staff in the effective management of outpatient appointments, diagnostic, elective admissions and Allied Health Professional (AHP) bookings, including waiting list management. Referrals are managed in line with clinical and chronological need.

IEAP allows for clinical discretion to be made as to whether to discharge or reappoint patients following non-attendance or repeated cancellations. Flexibility can be exercised by administration staff for unforeseen circumstances which result in non-attendance e.g. family bereavement.

IEAP guidelines encourage the timeliness, equity and appropriateness of treatment for all patients/clients. Referrals for autism assessment are defined as routine, and therefore under IEAP are managed in chronological order by referral date.

Access to HSC ASD services and supports is through the waiting list in each Trust. Service users on an ASD waiting list who seek a private diagnosis or are accepted onto an ASD waiting list with a private diagnosis are managed in chronological order of their referral, in line with IEAP guidelines. Trusts will evaluate the private assessment process against compliance with National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. If the diagnostic assessment complies with NICE guidelines, the diagnosis will be accepted and ongoing support will be provided. If the assessment does not meet with NICE guidelines, HSC clinicians will complete the diagnosis.

Having a private diagnosis will not affect an individual’s position on the waiting list for assessment.