How Blackpool Victoria Hospital will play a huge part in tackling waiting times for ADHD and autism referrals

Health bosses have issued an update over how they plan to tackle long waits for children waiting on ADHD and autism assessments in Lancashire.

Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) says it “remains committed to providing the most suitable sustainable model for our children and young people and their families”, and has now commissioned additional capacity to increase appointments for assessments, working with Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTH).

They say this change will improve how referrals are reviewed and prioritised, ensure families receive timely advice and support, and “create a more consistent and sustainable service across the region”.

For school-aged children and young people with autism (ASD), changes will take place for:

• New referrals for families in Lancaster and Morecambe. These will now be referred directly to BTH. Professionals have been made aware of these changes, and the new referral process can also be found in the ‘information for referrers re changes to North Lancashire autism referral pathway’ section.
• Children and young people in Central and West Lancashire and Lancaster and Morecambe who were previously referred to Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust for autism assessment, who have not yet had their referral triaged, or where triage information may have changed or require updating. These will now be securely transferred to BTH.

For children and young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), care will be transferred to BTH for those who have not yet had their referral triaged or require their triage information to be updated, including those in the following areas:

• Greater Preston, Chorley and South Ribble
• Skelmersdale
• Fylde and Wyre
• Lancaster and Morecambe
• South Cumbria

Families do not need to take any action. Those affected by these transfers for both pathways will receive a letter from LSCFT advising of next steps.