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Cheaper autism and ADHD scheme to be assessed

Robbie Boyle
BBC Scotland News
BBC A meeting of the Integration Joint Board (IJB) - the body which runs health and social care services in the region - with people sitting in a meeting room, under bright lights, with an Aberdeenshire Council sign on wall.BBC
A meeting discussed the potential cuts on Wednesday

The body which runs health and social care services in Aberdeenshire has voted to assess developing its own in-house adult autism and ADHD assessment scheme, instead of the provision being cut completely.

Council officers had recommend the £200,000 cut at a meeting on Wednesday due to a lack of Scottish government funding.

The Integration Joint Board (IJB) is looking to make millions of pounds of savings in the 2025/26 budget.

A meeting of the IJB in March will now outline what a new service - which would cost £120,000 per year less than the current scheme - might look like.

It is anticipated it would run on an initial six-month basis, while the IJB requests more funding.

During the meeting, it was noted if the service is approved, savings would still need to be found from elsewhere.

Almost 2,000 people are waiting for ADHD and autism assessments in Aberdeenshire.

Temporary Scottish government funding has allowed the service to run for the past four years.

Officers anticipated this funding would continue but said this had not happened.

The report before the IJB found cutting the provision would bring "significant risk" as it would leave people with "limited other options."

Aberdeenshire Council's Woodhill Headquarters. The building is behind a set of stairs and green and brown trees and bushes. A blue and white sign which says "Aberdeenshire Council Headquarters Committee Rooms" is at the front of the picture.
The meeting discussed a variety of savings in Aberdeenshire

Last month the Scottish government said there had been a "significant increase in referrals" for autism diagnosis, which was putting pressure on an already-stretched NHS.

GPs say they are not unwilling to refer patients who would benefit from support - but that the criteria for referrals was very strict.

Dr Chris Williams, vice chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland, previously said it would be helpful if the public was better informed about this criteria - and how there is no treatment or "cure" for autism, which is not an illness.

Social Care Minister Maree Todd said it was "disappointing" that local areas were considering cuts to services.