(UK) Eastleigh MP slams local govt over delays in ADHD/ASD assessments; "2027 at the earliest"

April 16, 2026, Daily Echo: Eastleigh MP says families 'let down' by delays to ADHD and autism assessments - Yahoo News UK

An Eastleigh MP has said families are being "let down" by delays to ADHD and autism assessments.

Liberal Democrat MP Liz Jarvis has written an open letter to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB), calling for clarity over changes to the Right to Choose (RTC) pathway.

Patients referred via the RTC pathway for an ADHD or autism assessment, including those already on the waiting list, will not be offered an assessment until 2027 at the earliest, and will only be offered an assessment if they meet prioritisation criteria.

The letter is also signed by fellow Liberal Democrat MPs Danny Chambers and Alex Brewer.

Liz Jarvis MP said: "Families in Hampshire are being let down. Not having an assessment can have a significant impact.

"Treatment and medication cannot be accessed without a diagnosis, and the longer that a child goes without one, the longer they spend in school without the proper understanding and support that they need."