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# Autism diagnosis waiting times in Suffolk soar, new figures show
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/autism-diagnosis-waiting-times-in-suffolk-soar-new-figures-show/
- Published: 2024-09-18T04:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-16T15:35:21.000Z
- Description: The number of children waiting for an autism diagnosis in Suffolk has increased dramatically since 2019, according to new NHS Digital figures.
- Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams
- Tags: News, Health & Care Services, Mental Health, #article, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), #Import 2026-03-16 14:46

**The big picture:** Around 2,790 children in Suffolk and North East Essex had an open referral for autism diagnosis as of the end of June 2024.

- 84% of these children have been waiting at least 13 weeks for a diagnosis.
- This is a stark increase from June 2019, when only 90 children were waiting for a diagnosis in the area.

**Why it matters:** Autism is a lifelong condition affecting how people communicate and interact with the world. Timely autism diagnoses are crucial for children to receive appropriate support and interventions.

The recommended timeframe for a diagnosis is 13 weeks, but the data shows most children in Suffolk are waiting far longer.

**Zoom out:** The trend is not unique to Suffolk. Every area in England has seen an increase in children waiting for autism diagnoses following the pandemic.

**What they're saying:**

- NHS England acknowledged the impact of Covid-19, stating: "Covid-19 has negatively impacted autistic children's mental wellbeing."
- The Department of Health and Social Care said: "It is unacceptable that too many children and young people are not receiving the care they deserve but we are working to reform the NHS to make it fit for the future."

**What's next:** NHS England says it is carrying out more autism diagnoses than ever before, but the backlog created by the pandemic continues to pose challenges.

### Sources

- [Autism Statistics, July 2023 to June 2024](https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/autism-statistics/july-2023-to-june-2024?ref=ipswich.co.uk)

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