Concern over numbers waiting for autism diagnosis in North Yorkshire
Campaigners say it's frustrating for families who need more support
Campaigners say it's "sad and frustrating" that so many people are waiting for an autism diagnosis in North Yorkshire.
Latest data from the North Yorkshire and Humber Care board suggest almost 6,300 people are on the list.
Tynisha Abdy from Ripon now works to raise awareness of autism after her own personal experience: "So I was 12 when I got diagnosed, which is really late to be diagnosed. It took ten years because I just was told you don't have it, you look fine, there's nothing wrong with you.
"I was a service child, so my Dad was in the army, so we had to keep moving up and down. So that did make the process a little bit harder because we were having to start again with every school. Basically, since the age of two, my mum knew I had it. She'd worked with children so she could pick up the signs. But again, because I was a girl because I masked it really well, school said no, she's fine, she's doing well in school, there's nothing wrong. But it would be when I got home and I would lash out or something would go wrong or something at school would bother me, but they wouldn't see it.
"It only took for us going to the doctors back and forth, back and forth. We eventually moved down South and my first ever doctor rang and said, 'what's been going on, what is with all these doctors notes and appointments, what's happening?' And my mum told them 'they're not listening, she has autism'. But because I was doing well and because I masked it, it wasn't an issue because they said I was fine. Basically from there, they said we'll get it sorted and I was in the hospital, had an assessment, got my diagnosis. Unfortunately it is a post code lottery at the moment.
"So I was lucky enough that we'd moved down South and I got listened to. Had I stayed in North Yorkshire, I I probably wouldn't have got it."
What's being done?
In a statement NHS England say: 'While there remains high demand for autism assessments, we are seeing an improvement in the number of assessments completed.
'But we know there is more to do, which is why we have published new national guidance to help local partners to deliver high-quality autism assessment services and to manage the 161 per cent increase in referrals over the last four years, while providing enhanced autism training for psychiatrists.'