Doctors and NHS organisations are failing to provide adequate care for people with autism, according to a report by public spending watchdog the National Audit Office (NAO).
Many NHS organisations and doctors are ignorant about how many of their patients have autism and how best to treat them.
In a NAO report Supporting people with autism through adulthood, a survey of 1,000 GPs across England found that 80% of doctors said they needed additional guidance and training to be able to identify and treat patients with autism more effectively.
The report, which also surveyed 111 local authorities and their NHS partner organisations, found there was a lack of information on numbers of adults with autism and without a fuller understanding and awareness of the condition, this would restrict their ability to plan and deliver services effectively.
There are an estimated 400,000 adults with autism in England (and 100,000 children), many of whom may require specialised support and additional support – while others require a lifetime of specialist care. It is estimated autism costs the UK economy around £28.2 billion per year due to money spent on specific services, lost employment and family expense.
The report, which studied the services available for people with autism and their carers, including health and social care, education, benefits and employment support, found services wanting.
The report says: “Service providers need a better understanding of what autism is and of the range of potential needs of people with autism, to enable them to meet those needs more effectively with better targeted, more appropriate services.”
It recommended the Department of Health provide guidance to primary care trusts on how to improve knowledge and awareness of autism amongst GPs and other primary care practitioners.
The survey of GPs also showed:
- only one in five GPs kept registers of patients with autism
- 64% said they referred adults with suspected high-functioning autism to adult mental health services
- 19% referred them to learning disability services
- 12% were not sure where they should refer such patients.
The report recommends that the Department of Health draw up good practice guidelines for commissioning support for adults with autism out-of-area.
Tim Burr, former Comptroller and Auditor General of the NAO, who was in post when the report was prepared, said: “Greater awareness of the numbers of people with autism, as well as better understanding of autism amongst those providing health, social care, benefits, education and employment services, would lead to improved quality of life for those on the autistic spectrum.”
Edward Leigh Conservative MP for Gainsborough and chairman of the parliamentary committee of public accounts, said: “NHS organisations and local authorities have little idea how many adults with autism are out there needing help and support.
“Many GPs and social care staff have a low awareness of autism and the needs of those with the condition. So services are not being properly planned and provided.”