August 3, 2021, BBC News: Children in Jersey wait 20 months for autism diagnosis https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-jersey-58077349
Island in English Channel
The backlog has been partly caused by cancelled appointments during the coronavirus pandemic
Some children in Jersey are facing a 20-month wait to find out if they have autism, following a backlog of cases.
The delay has been caused by assessment clinics being cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and an increase in demand, the island's government said.
There are currently 73 children waiting for a diagnostic assessment.
The government said it was hoping to outsource assessment services temporarily to manage the backlog.
'Short-term measure'…
The Government of Jersey said staff were "working additional hours" to address the increase in demand and it was "seeking providers that have the capacity to manage the backlog"….
Previously, in the first quarter of 2020, children had to wait for an average of three-and-a-half months from referral to a completed assessment.
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