New figures reveal that just one in 50 patients referred for suspected autism in South East London received their first care appointment within the recommended timeframe.

The National Autistic Society has warned that autistic individuals and their families often endure "long, traumatic waits for a diagnosis" and is calling on the Government to invest in diagnostic services.

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has set a target of 13 weeks for assessing suspected autism cases. However, NHS England data shows that as of December, only 30 out of 1,440 patients under the NHS South East London Integrated Care Board who had referrals open for more than 13 weeks were assessed within that period.

An additional 190 referrals resulted in consultations after the 13-week target had passed, while approximately 1,225 referrals did not lead to an appointment at all. It is worth noting that a patient may have multiple open referrals simultaneously.

Across England, fewer than 5% of the nearly 191,700 patients with referrals open for at least 13 weeks had received a first appointment within the recommended timeframe by the end of 2024. The median waiting time for an initial consultation stood at 357 days.

Meanwhile, the number of open referrals for suspected autism continues to rise, with 7,603 new referrals and 6,770 closed cases recorded nationwide in December. By the end of 2024, there were 212,964 open referrals in England, with 90% exceeding the 13-week target.

The Government introduced the National Autism Strategy in 2021 to enhance public understanding of autism, support autistic individuals in education and employment, and reduce diagnostic wait times.

However, Mel Merritt, head of policy and campaigns at the National Autistic Society, noted that the number of open referrals has more than tripled since December 2021. She emphasized that many autistic individuals struggle to access support without an official diagnosis.

"An autism diagnosis can be life-changing and, in some cases, lifesaving," she said. "Autistic people and their families face a constant battle for support, which often begins with long and distressing waits for a diagnosis. The Government must urgently fund diagnostic services to address this growing crisis and ensure that autistic people and their families receive timely support."

An NHS spokesperson acknowledged the challenge, stating: "The NHS has seen a 165% rise in autism referrals over the past four years, but there has been progress in the number of assessments completed. However, much more needs to be done. That’s why we have published national guidance to help local teams provide high-quality autism assessment services and have enhanced autism training for psychiatrists."