Historical Freedom of Information response

From: NHS South West Essex FOI Lead
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:47:50 +0000
Subject: FOI 940 : Autism - From : Sarah McCulloch

Dear Sarah McCulloch

I apologies for the delay in responding to your FOI request, unfortunately we do not hold the information at NHS South Essex. However, we have obtained the attached from our local providers which we are told is all the information that have on this matter. 

The only other information we do hold are the referrals made to the Lorna Wing in Bromley for the over 5 year old children - this is only because it is an additional commissioned service.

This year (2012/13) we have had the following:
15 assessments - these were completing the backlog from 2011
6 assessments - these are the number of assessments undertaken to date for 2012
15 assessments - these are the number of CYP awaiting an assessment
It's forecast that we may have another 21 assessments this financial year.

This of course doesn't confirm that each of these children will get a diagnosis. It's more than likely but it is a referral list not a diagnosis list.

It has been suggested that information may be obtained via local authorities statement of educational need lists? Unfortunately, again it will not necessarily capture all the children with a diagnosis of ASD.