§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve services for sufferers of autistic spectrum disorders. [115066]
§ Jacqui SmithAutism is one of the least understood but most frightening and difficult of conditions. People with autism lead isolated lives. Their social and communication difficulties place great stress on their families. It is important that we should all be sensitive to their needs.
Children with autistic spectrum disorders will benefit from the programmes to improve services for disabled children. The Quality Protects (QP) programme to improve children's social services has made disabled children a priority area. From 2001–02 to 2003–04, £60 million from the children's services special grant has been earmarked for services for disabled children and their families—£15 million in 2001–02 and 2002–03 and £30 million in 2003–04. Last years QP management action plans show that more family support services are being provided, particularly home based respite care and sitting services. The Carers Grant is increasing from £85 million this year to £185 million by 2005–06. Approximately 20 per cent. is spent on children's services, mainly to carers of disabled children to fund the provision of short term breaks. Direct payments were introduced in the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 and are increasing the flexibility and choice for parents in the provision of services.
Disabled children are also a priority area within the development of the children's national service framework (NSF). NSFs were established to improve services through setting national standards to drive up quality and tackle existing variations in care. The Childrens NSF will develop new national standards across the NHS, social services and interface with education. It will be about putting children and young people at the centre of their care. The NSF will include care pathways/exemplar diagrams illustrating optimum approaches to delivering services in a number of different areas. It will show how families should receive multi-agency early intervention and support based on their needs. One of the exemplars will be on services for children with autism.
The Department of Health, in association with the Department for Education and Skills, published good practice guidance on autistic spectrum disorders last year. The guidance was primarily aimed at schools and local education authorities but was also relevant to health and social services providers. We will also be working with the Department for Education and Skills on the new Special Educational Needs Action Programme which, among other things, will promote effective approaches to teaching and learning for children with autism.
355WPeople with autism are benefiting from funding of over £200,000 which the Department made through the Section 64 Scheme of Grants to Voluntary Organisations between 1998–99 arid 2001–02. We are currently devoting a further £154,000 over three years to the National Autistic Society project Independence and Autism: Good Practice for Service Providers. This will support the development of new services to enable adults with autism or Asperger's Syndrome to live independently.
The "Valuing People" White Paper directly covers every adult with autism who also has a learning disability. Implementation guidance, issued in August 2001, makes clear that adults with A sperger's Syndrome or higher functioning autism are not precluded from using learning disability services, where appropriate, and may require an assessment of their social functioning and communication skills in order to establish their level of need. By bringing together a wide range of local statutory agencies, Valuing People gives us the scope to improve opportunities and services for people across the autistic spectrum.
Adults with autism will also gain, along with others, from the investment we are making to improve standards in health and social care services. In particular they will benefit from the NHS Plan, the mental health NSF, which covers the mental health needs of adults with autism, and Fair Access to Care Services.
§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take measures to increase the number of centres which provide for the diagnosing and treating of autistic children who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease; and if he will make a statement. [115463]
§ Jacqui SmithWe recognise the problems that occur for children who suffer autistic spectrum disorders, and for their families. We will continue to work on what more we need to do to improve services for autistic children. We will also seek to ensure diagnosis and treatment provisions consistent with demand. Primary care trusts (PCT) have a pivotal role here, in ensuring an appropriate level of services to meet the health care demands of their local population. For those children with bowel symptoms suggestive of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), local paediatricians and paediatric gastroenterologists have the necessary expertise to investigate and manage IBD in children with, and without autism.
The children's national service framework (NSF) will set new national standards which will help to ensure better access and smoother progression in the provision of services for children, from initial contact and diagnosis with the National Health Service, via a general practitioner surgery or NHS hospital. The NSF will include care pathways/exemplar diagrams illustrating optimum approaches to delivering services in a number of different areas and one of these will be on services for children with autism.