Government announces work to begin on national autism strategy

Mr Hope said a consultation on the strategy would begin in April, and the final document would be unveiled by the end of the year.

He said: ‘Implementation will be driven regionally to make sure it makes a real difference to the local services used by children and adults with autism, their families and carers.

‘We will also fund research on the prevalence of autism in adults and develop good practice commissioning guidance for the NHS and local authorities,’ he said during a visit to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

The announcement comes in the wake of campaigning by the National Autistic Society and a private member’s bill submitted by MP Cheryl Gillan.

National Autistic Society chief executive Mark Lever said the announcement was a ‘landmark victory which could also have a far wider reaching impact on others in the disabled community’.

• Related article: Autism card scheme aids emergency services

• Need to keep ahead of nursing news and clinical developments? Let us help. Get a comprehensive round-up delivered free to your inbox every day. Simply click here, log in and select 'Daily news alert'

Have your say

You must sign in to make a comment.