(Wales) Conwy: 3,000 kids waiting up to 4 yrs for "neurodiversity diagnosis"

June 10, 2025, Nation CYMRU: Children waiting up to four years for neurodiversity diagnosis 

Some children have waited up to four years for a neurodiversity assessment, a north Wales council scrutiny committee heard.

The claim was raised during a meeting of Conwy Council’s social care and health scrutiny committee at Coed Pella, where senior representatives from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board faced pressure to explain long waiting lists for children with conditions such as autism.

It was revealed at the meeting that nearly 3,000 children in Conwy and Denbighshire are currently on the waiting list for a neurodiversity assessment.

Alison Cowell, Betsi Cadwaldr University Health Board’s assistant area director for child and adolescent health, acknowledged the delays and admitted the service is under strain.

The National Autistic Society expressed concern at the “unacceptably long waiting times” for a diagnosis. . . .

While she said she was optimistic going forward, she said there had been a huge increase in potential neurodiversity cases coming forward since the pandemic. . . .

 “Significant” work

She added: “And the diagnosis isn’t a one-off appointment. The assessment and the diagnosis take time. So that is a significant piece of work that is a priority for me, as the executive director of children’s services. And as you’d rightly say, it is a priority for the Regional Project Board, and we are working really hard to improve that experience, and clearly the performance of that service as well.”

James Radcliffe, external affairs manager for Wales at the National Autistic Society said: “We are deeply concerned about the unacceptably long waiting times children and adults are facing for an autism diagnosis. .  .  .