(UK) Lincs: "Spike" in autism; 9.1% of elem children have ASD as 'key need'

July 24, 2024, My Local: Spike in autism referrals strains Lincolnshire NHS and council resources

E. England

Councillors and the local NHS care board have reported a significant increase in demand for autism services in Lincolnshire, driven by heightened awareness and publicity around neurodiversity.

During a meeting of the Lincolnshire County Council's Adults and Community Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, officials discussed the year-long waitlists for autism referrals and the new five-year All Age Autism Strategy, with a primary focus to create "autism-friendly" environments and opportunities for people on the spectrum to have their say.

With Lincolnshire's population being 768,400 in the 2021 Census, and research suggesting that anywhere between 0.6% and 1.7% of the general population are autistic, it is estimated that some 13,000 people in the county would have autism.

That is a number that is expected only to rise, as awareness continues to blossom. . . .

It is also the case with young people. 9.1% of primary school children in Lincolnshire have special education needs that identify with autism as a ‘key need’, which is 0.9% higher than the national average.

According to a national study from 2021, the number of autism diagnoses between 1998 and 2018 jumped 787% in the United Kingdom, and the Nuffield Trust warned earlier this year that the NHS could not meet the demand for ADHD and autism referrals, urging a "radical rethink."

Cllr Karen Lee (Labour) gave reference to her grandson being on the autistic spectrum, and said that "awareness going up is the reason referrals are going up," a thought which was echoed by two other councillors on the committee during the debate period.

It was noted that demand for referrals often soars when a celebrity or prominent social media figure opens up about their own experiences with neurodiversity. . . . 

"As awareness is greater, less people are being missed," she said, before calling for a "neurodevelopmental lens" within the wider NHS network, which would help integrate neurodiversity and relieve pressures on individual sectors of health and social care.

That is not to say the challenges get easier from here, given the width of the autistic spectrum and the many forms it can take as a condition.

Cllr Mark Whittington (Conservative) asked when a "total understanding" of the levels of demand will be reached, and the response was that there "will never be complete accuracy" due to the "layers of complexity."

He referenced eras previous to the 21st century, where children with potential SEND issues were simply "badged as naughty" rather than offered support for their individual cases.

Cllr Whittington asked: "We’re on an upward trajectory of demand, but will we ever know what the sheer level of demand is for these services?"

A key priority of the strategy, however, is focused more on creating "autism-friendly" environments and ensuring it is looked at within the mental health and social care sectors, rather than learning difficulties.

This rings true in a number of sectors across the country, whether it be supermarkets providing sensory-friendly experiences for shoppers, or the county council's multi-million pound spending on special school improvements across Lincolnshire. . . .

Ultimately, though, the NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board underlined the importance of not treating all cases of autism the same.

Cath Keay told the committee: "When you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism."