To ask the Minister of Health to detail any steps his Department is taking to improve access to children's autism services in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.

The Department is working closely with Health and Social Care Trusts across the region, including the Southern Health and Social Care Trust who are implementing a range of coordinated and localised strategies across children and young people’s and adult’s services to address increasing demand for autism assessments and thereby reduce waiting times. These actions include:

Reviewing and refining assessment pathways to reduce clinical time per case while maintaining quality, aligned to NICE guidelines.

Using non-recurring funding identified via Trust waiting list initiatives to commission additional assessments, including through independent sector providers where possible.

Applying the Emotional Health and Wellbeing referral form across Children’s Services to support appropriate referrals and early triage.

Undertaking local quality improvement projects to streamline processes and optimise clinical capacity.

Participating in regional forums to address demand-capacity challenges and help standardise pathways.