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:

Update:

I am pleased that Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust and the Integrated Care Board have decided to continue accepting new referrals received from the start of February as normal.

Following concerns raised by families and carers, and after the joint letter from Labour MPs across Lancashire and South Cumbria, which I shared with you yesterday, they have now lifted their pause on autism (ASD) and ADHD assessment services for children and young people.

I am aware that current waiting times for children and young people remain unacceptably long, with some families facing waits of several years. I will therefore keep an eye out for forthcoming proposals from the Board on how these delays will be addressed. Furthermore, the arrangements will be reviewed again once a new service framework, which was already in the pipeline, has been established, and I will keep constituents updated about any changes and support throughout this process.

For now, I welcome the decision to lift the pause on the service and allow progress on waiting lists to continue. Alongside my colleagues, I stand ready to review their plans and continue working with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to ensure young people and their families across Lancashire and South Cumbria receive the care they deserve.

You can read the statement from L&SC ICB here: Updated statement regarding referrals for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) :: Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust