CHILDREN in Southend are suffering due to "unacceptable" waiting times to be diagnosed with autism, a campaign group has warned.

New figures have shown dozens of people had been waiting longer than 13 weeks for their suspected autism to be diagnosed in the city.

As of the end of March, around 35 of the 70 adults and children waiting for an autism assessment in the NHS Southend CCG area had been on the list for more than 13 weeks – the longest time someone should wait for a diagnosis following a referral, according to national guidance.

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This was an increase from the five patients waiting longer than 13 weeks at the beginning of March 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic.

Southend SEND Crisis has described the process to get diagnosed as "torturous". 

One of its founders, Julia Hopper, said: "Children are suffering, and it is unacceptable.

“We struggle to even accept the figures here.

“Many of our families tell us they must wait a year to even see a paediatrician and begin the tortuous referral process.

“Very often that process is hampered for years while schools are allowed to decide whether they think the child should be assessed.

“It is chaos, there is so much gatekeeping and so many artificial obstacles to every step of a diagnosis."

Southend SEND Crisis was formed in 2019 by a group of parents fighting for better services for their children and young adults who suffer with learning difficulties.

The group says it often supports a number of familes fighting to get an autism diagnosis. 

Julia added: "We follow families in Southend through this process, reluctantly watching their children deteriorate and develop illness as a result of these delays in being diagnosed.

“There is a generation of trauma and complete breakdown in trust to be addressed.

“We see the results of these tragic failures, especially in children, on the streets of Southend.”

Autism is a lifelong condition which impacts how people communicate and interact with the world.

It is normally diagnosed at a young age, although some may receive a diagnosis as teenagers or into adulthood.

Many people referred for assessment are being forced to wait too long to access autism-specific support services, as the latest figures from NHS England show a backlog has built up across the country.

Tim Nicholls, head of influencing and research at the National Autistic Society, a charity supporting those with the condition, said a diagnosis can be "life-changing" and is crucial to getting the right help and advice.

“Without proper long-term funding for diagnosis services across the country, we fear that the waiting list will continue to grow, and people could be left waiting months or even years for a diagnosis.

"For many of them, this will mean struggling without support at school, work or home."