Extra autism and ADHD assessments offered to help cut waiting lists in Northamptonshire
More than 500 extra neurodevelopmental assessments for autism and/or ADHD are being offered to young people in Northamptonshire as part of a drive to help reduce waiting lists.
Demand for autism and/or ADHD assessments is extremely high and growing in the county. Because of this, NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board has provided special funding to pay for at least 500 extra assessments, on top of the ones which are being routinely provided by the NHS.
These extra assessments are being offered to children and young people on the waiting list in Northamptonshire who meet certain criteria, including prioritising those who are moving from primary to secondary school and from children's to adults' services.
The assessments are provided by Healios, an independent online mental health, autism and ADHD service provider for children, young people and families.
Those being offered the assessments are being contacted by letter to explain what happens next, including detailed information about how they can access their assessment. Those who accept the offer will then be taken off the assessment waiting list, helping others to be able to access assessments sooner.
Questions and answers
How has it been decided who is offered a Healios assessment?
A few things have been taken into account in deciding who to offer one of the new Healios assessments. Priority is being given to:
- Those who are about to move from primary school to secondary school or from children's services to adults' services
- Those whose circumstances mean their need for an assessment is most urgent
- Those who have been waiting the longest
Those offered a Healios assessment have the option not to accept it if an online assessment does not suit them. Their appointment will then be offered to someone else on the waiting list.
What do young people and families need to do if they are offered a Healios assessment?
Young people and families who are offered a Healios assessment are being contacted with full details of how they access their assessment, what they need to do and what happens next.
What about young people who are not offered a Healios assessment?
It is recognised that there are still many more people waiting for an autism and/or ADHD assessment than there are appointments available.
Those who are not offered a Healios assessment will stay on the waiting list and will continue to wait for their assessments - though the extra capacity provided by Healios means that everyone waiting for an assessment will now move further forward in the waiting list for an NHS appointment.
We are also working hard in the NHS to reduce waiting times and steps we have taken to do this include recruiting extra staff and changing the way we deliver assessments so they can be done more efficiently.
When will the new appointments be offered?
Healios will start to make contact with those who accept their offer of an assessment from the beginning of August. The aim is for Healios to have completed the assessment process within 6 months of this first contact. The funding provided for the extra Healios assessments is provided on the basis that the assessments are completed by the end of March 2026.
Why aren't the assessments being offered by NHS providers?
The NHS in Northamptonshire has already recruited extra staff to and improved the way autism and/or ADHD assessments are provided locally, but NHS staff are still working to capacity. This means that, even with extra funding, the NHS does not have the resources right now to be able to provide the number of additional assessments which need to be provided before the end of March 2026.
Healios is an experienced provider of mental health, autism and ADHD services for children, young people and families and has the capacity to provide the extra assessments needed. This means people who are eligible for Healios assessments can be seen sooner and everyone else can move further forward in the waiting list. You can find out more about Healios at healios.org.uk.
What happens if my child doesn't engage with the online assessment?
The Healios team are very experienced at helping children take part in assessments. However, if your child cannot engage in a planned assessment and it can't be rescheduled with Healios, they will be put back on the the NHS waiting list. Their place on the list will be based on their original referral date.
Who provides routine NHS autism and/or ADHD assessments for children and young people in Northamptonshire?
In North Northamptonshire, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) provides assessments for children and young people of all school ages.
In West Northamptonshire, NHFT provides assessments for children and young people of secondary school age. Northampton General Hospital provides assessments for children of primary school age.
NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board is currently developing a case for change that would see a single lead provider take responsibility for delivering children's community health services in the future, including autism and ADHD services. Find out more about this.
What is being done to support those on the waiting list for an assessment while they are waiting to be seen?
We recognise that children and young people may need help while they are waiting for an autism and/or ADHD assessment, and there are local services available to support them. They include:
- The Northamptonshire Drop-Ins service, where young people can meet with a qualified youth counsellor in a safe space to talk and be listened to. Visit nhft.nhs.uk/dropins for times and venues.
- Northamptonshire's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Consultation Line is open 9am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, providing support for families, parents, carers, guardians and young people. Call 0800 170 7055 (Option 1, Option 1) or use the CAMHS Live online chat service at nhft.nhs.uk/camhslive
- iDiscover - free online tools and resources, plus courses and workshops, to support children and young people's wellbeing at nhft.nhs.uk/idiscover. iDiscover includes specific information and advice about autism and ADHD and resources for parents and carers.