Tim Farron raises lack of support for people with ADHD and autism in Parliament

On the floor of the House of Commons this week, South Lakes MP Tim Farron challenged ministers in the Department for Health and Social Care to intervene so that neurodivergent people get access to the specific care that they need.

Young people with autism or ADHD in Cumbria and Lancashire are often left waiting years to receive a proper diagnosis and tailored support that they need from the NHS.

Speaking during Health and Social Care Questions in Parliament, Tim said: “Roughly 50% of the young people on the books of child and adolescent mental health services in South Cumbria have ADHD or autism. 

“The integrated care board provides no funding whatever to acknowledge that. That is a huge burden on those young people and their families. It stops them getting back into school and so on, but it is also a burden on all the other young people waiting for treatment for things like eating disorders

“Will the Minister pay personal attention to this - obviously, it is her ICB as well - to make sure that children with autism and ADHD are properly supported through our CAMHS services?”

Responding, the Health Minister and West Lancashire MP Ashley Dalton said: “As it is the ICB shared by my constituency, I am equally concerned. 

“This will be explored as part of the review and I am more than happy to ask the Minister responsible to contact the honourable gentleman further on how we can take that forward.”