17/02/2026
🔵 UPDATE: Autism & ADHD ASSESSMENTS – THE PAUSE HAS BEEN ‘UNPAUSED’ 🔵
As of today, there will no longer be any immediate changes to the autism and ADHD diagnosis pathways.
After our meeting with the ICB today, we can now share a clear and factual update.
✅ What is happening right now
The previous pause to the ADHD and autism pathways has been reversed.
This means:
• All Autism and ADHD Referrals are being accepted again
• Assessments are continuing as they were before the original announcement
• There is now no immediate change for children and young people.
This will remain in place until the end of February.
This position has been reached because the issue was escalated to the highest level across NHS leadership, including meetings between ourselves, other Parent Carer Forums and the ICB, and our public posts have generated a lot of media and political attention.
🔄 What happens by the end of February:
During this time, the ICB is working on putting a new plan in place for the ADHD and autism assessment process. The current model is not fit for purpose. They are looking at funding options, and which providers (organisations) can carry out the assessments, including continuing with LSCFT.
By the end of February, there are two possible outcomes:
A. Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust will continue to deliver assessments as normal under a new agreement with the ICB.
Or
B. There will be another provider(s) carrying out the assessments instead, with children moving under their service from LSCFT. This will be commissioned and fully funded by the NHS.
We have been assured that:
• This will be a seamless transition, no matter which route happens
• Families will not be asked to do anything
• Children’s place in the process will not be affected
• In practice, this means your child will continue their pathway ‘journey’ and assessment with another organisation.
🏛️ Our next steps
We have formally requested a meeting with the Chief Executive of Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust and the Director of Nursing in the ICB to take place before the end of February so we can be part of those next step discussions.
This is to ensure families’ experiences and concerns are heard and communication to families is clear and appropriate going forward.
We will update you following that meeting.
🗣️ About the Trust’s latest public statement
We are aware that an updated statement has been published on the Trust website detailing the ‘reversal of the pause’.
We received this information by letter this morning and, as with the previous communication, we are extremely disappointed with how this has been worded to families. We know this will have caused further confusion at an already very stressful time. We have raised this to the most senior people within the NHS.
💙 From us as parent carers
Everyone running Parent Carer Forums is a volunteer who is also raising children and young people with additional needs and disabilities.
A lot of us have been through this very pathway, and the very systems ourselves. We completely understand the worry, frustration and uncertainty this situation has caused.
Throughout half term, whilst caring for our own children, we have been attending urgent meetings, challenging decisions, pushing for clear answers and making sure the voices of families are heard at the highest level, and we will continue to do so.
You may sometimes notice a short delay between information appearing elsewhere online (the media and other organisations) and us posting.
This is because we take time to cross - check the details in meetings and in writing so that what we share with you is factual, accurate and reflects the full picture. We also must do this around meeting our own children’s needs during the half-term.
That can occasionally mean our updates follow a little later, but it ensures families receive confirmed and reliable information rather than speculation.
Because of the speed at which this situation has been moving, other organisations or the media may sometimes publish before we do and may not have the full or most up-to-date detail.
Please continue checking updates on our page to ensure you get the correct information. Our next planned meeting with the ICB is Tuesday 24th February, unless there are any other updates before then.
The ICB are still planning to complete an FAQ sheet for parent carers and families, answering any questions about what is happening with pathways in Lancashire and South Cumbria. If you have any questions, please either comment or email them to us and we will pass them on to the ICB.
Thank you for your patience and your support while this was escalated and challenged. 💙
