Letter: Pause of ASD and ADHD support for children and young people

The decision by Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust to pause new referrals and halt progress on existing waiting lists for autism (ASD) and ADHD assessments for children and young people is deeply concerning to me. I share this concern with other Lancashire-based MPs, so I have joined them in writing to the Trust to raise our concerns.

For me, this is a matter of basic fairness and compassion. A diagnosis is not a bureaucratic step; it is often the gateway to educational support, tailored healthcare and a better quality of life. Leaving children and families in limbo, sometimes after years of waiting, simply cannot be right.

I fully recognise the intense pressure our NHS staff and services are under, and I support long-term reforms that improve access and deliver earlier, needs-led support. But change must never come at the cost of abandoning those already in the system or widening inequalities between families who can afford private assessments and those who cannot.

Alongside colleagues, I am seeking urgent clarity on how children already waiting will be supported, when assessments will resume, and what safeguards will be in place for families and schools in the meantime.

Families across our region deserve certainty, dignity and continuity of care, and I will continue to press for answers on their behalf.

You can read the full letter here: