Woman 'told to wait 16 to 18 years' for autism test

A woman has said she did not know "whether to laugh or cry" after finding out she would have to wait 16 to 18 years for an autism diagnosis.

Jenny was recently told that was her expected wait for an NHS assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Her case was raised in the House of Commons by her MP Layla Moran, who said for the 34-year-old mother to have to wait until she was 51 for an appointment was "clearly ridiculous".

The Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire & West Berkshire (BOB) Integrated Care Board (ICB) said it was working to find a solution.

"I have been living with anxiety and chronic stress for years and I've just sort of been powering through," Jenny, who did not want to give her full name, told the BBC.

She said she tried medication and different types of counselling over the years to no avail.

"Last November I had some time off work... and I just thought I can't live like this any more," she said.

Jenny said she did a lot of "digging and research" before going to her GP to see if she could get referred for a diagnosis.

He agreed to do so but warned her the waiting lists were "quite long".

She took tests that exceeded the threshhold for ASD and then braced herself for a wait of a year or so at worst, she said.

But when she received a letter with the actual estimate, she thought it was "bizarre".

Ms Moran, the MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, brought up the "diagnosis insanity" during a debate regarding Health and Social Care funding.

When she told MPs how long the waiting list was, there were audible gasps in the chamber.

She told the BBC: "Years sounds like a typo - it was just mad."

She said it was an "absolutely extraordinary story" and "totally unacceptable", suggesting a major issue was the lack of waiting time targets for mental health disorders.

This was a "very obvious change that needs to happen", she said.

In a statement, BOB ICB said: "As commissioners we acknowledge the long waits for adult autism assessments.

"We are aware of Oxford Adult Autism Diagnostic Support Service's situation and are working with them to find a solution."

It said demand for autism assessments for adults had significantly increased in recent years "largely due to greater awareness and understanding of autism".

The Department of Health and Social Care said: "For too long, children and young people with autism, ADHD and other neurological conditions have been let down by a broken NHS.

"Through our 10-year Health Plan, this government will tackle this head-on, reducing unacceptable waiting times and improving support before and after a diagnosis."

For Jenny, the wait for a diagnosis goes on.

"It would make a huge difference to me and it's something I'm constantly thinking about to be honest," she said.

"It would just bring so much clarity... then I know I can actually start to understand this and make changes which I know would take a really long time."

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, information and support is available via the BBC Action Line.

You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.