Overview

• Only 4.5% of under‑18s with autism referrals received an appointment within the 13‑week NICE guideline across England.
• Average waits range from 54 days in Mid and South Essex to 1,063 days in South Yorkshire, exposing a stark north–south divide.
• The report identifies major diagnostic inequality, finding girls of Pakistani heritage are 11 times less likely to receive a diagnosis than White British boys.
• Referrals for ADHD assessments rose by more than 22% between June 2024 and June 2025, adding pressure to services.
• The #ChildrenFirst campaign begins a 12‑week rollout of practitioner toolkits as local efforts such as in Gateshead cut under‑5 waits from 84 to 64 weeks and set an 18‑week target by March 2026.