Autistic Spectrum Conditions: access to support in Bradford and District
What should I expect?
You have a right to expect that the NHS provides timely interpretation support. Additional time should be provided at appointments when an interpreter is required.
Your healthcare worker should also record in your healthcare record:
- your preferred spoken language (including dialect)
- your preferred written language
- whether you require an interpreter.
This information should be passed on when you get a referral to other health or social care services.
You should never have to pay for language interpretation services.
Key findings
- People who think they may be autistic continue to face long waits for diagnosis.
- Accessing support for autism can be difficult – most support requires a formal diagnosis, but even with this, people find they do not get as much as they need.
- It is hard to find information about diagnosis and support in Bradford and District, and a lack of awareness about the communication needs of autistic people across services makes this more difficult
The combination of these challenges leave people upset and frustrated, unable to access healthcare, and can have a devastating effect on their mental health.
We are calling for more attention to be paid to the needs of autistic people. Greater awareness and understanding of autism is needed to ensure that people can live well and access the services to which they are entitled. Support should be made available to people who are waiting for a formal diagnosis and information about diagnosis and support should be accessible to autistic people.
We are disappointed that autistic people in Bradford continue to struggle to get the help they need – and are entitled to. We hope that this report will lead to action – we know that work is already happening to try to reopen the diagnosis service (BANDS), and we hope that the backlog is addressed as a matter of urgency. But giving people a diagnosis is not enough. People need to be able to access the support that they need to live well and stay healthy and independent. We are calling for better training of staff who work with autistic people, and improved information for autistic people and their families. The delays to diagnosis have highlighted how important it is for people to be able to access support as soon as they need it, and support should be made available to people waiting for a diagnosis.
Downloads
Take a look at the full report:
If you need this report in a different format, please contact us:
info@healthwatchbradford.co.uk
01535 612545
The findings of this report, including recommendations, have been shared with service providers and was presented to Bradford Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Thursday September 6th 2018.
