Autism Spectrum Disorders
Children in Wandsworth are facing waits of nearly two years for diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders, as demand for mental health services increases.
Children and young people in Wandsworth are waiting up to 93 weeks for a diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism spectrum disorders. The council's Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee heard in November 2026 that demand for the borough's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) has risen by 20% in the last year, contributing to significant treatment delays.
Referrals for neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism spectrum disorders, have seen a particularly sharp increase, growing from 32% of all CAMHS referrals in 2022/23 to 46%. This rise has also led to the average wait for treatment doubling over the past four years, from 7.5 weeks to 15 weeks.
Key facts
- Some children in Wandsworth are waiting 93 weeks for a diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions like autism. Source
- Demand for Wandsworth's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) has risen by 20% in the last year. Source
- Referrals for neurodevelopmental conditions grew from 32% of all CAMHS referrals in 2022/23 to 46%. Source
- The average wait for treatment in Wandsworth CAMHS has doubled from 7.5 weeks to 15 weeks over four years. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 13 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.