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| 'Joined-up' autism service launched for Wales | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A new national autism service is to be set up to improve support for children and adults in Wales, the health minister has announced. | A new national autism service is to be set up to improve support for children and adults in Wales, the health minister has announced. |
| It comes after National Autistic Society Cymru criticised "patchy" provision for the 34,000 people with autism and Asperger syndrome in Wales. | It comes after National Autistic Society Cymru criticised "patchy" provision for the 34,000 people with autism and Asperger syndrome in Wales. |
| It said nearly two-thirds of people wait too long for diagnosis and it wants targets to back up the strategy. | |
| The Welsh government said the new service would be more joined up. | |
| An independent analysis of the strategy published last month said despite improvements, and Wales leading the way in the UK in forming policies, there were weaknesses and it lacked impact. | An independent analysis of the strategy published last month said despite improvements, and Wales leading the way in the UK in forming policies, there were weaknesses and it lacked impact. |
| This included a lack of priorities which created "islands of good practice" rather than systemic change. | This included a lack of priorities which created "islands of good practice" rather than systemic change. |
| The new service, which is backed by £6m from the Welsh government, will be rolled out over the next three years. | The new service, which is backed by £6m from the Welsh government, will be rolled out over the next three years. |
| It will be a key part of an action plan, which is a refreshed version of one launched eight years ago, and aims to bring together the agencies and health workers involved in supporting people with autism to provide an improved, joined-up service. | It will be a key part of an action plan, which is a refreshed version of one launched eight years ago, and aims to bring together the agencies and health workers involved in supporting people with autism to provide an improved, joined-up service. |
| The new service will: | The new service will: |
| Health Minister Mark Drakeford said it would ensure people with autism received "the right support, by the right professional, in the right place, at the right time". | Health Minister Mark Drakeford said it would ensure people with autism received "the right support, by the right professional, in the right place, at the right time". |
| He added: "It will ensure there is consistency across the country, ensuring people with autism are able to access comparable services across Wales." | He added: "It will ensure there is consistency across the country, ensuring people with autism are able to access comparable services across Wales." |
| The "refreshed" action plan will focus on areas such as raising awareness, improving assessment and addressing support issues, including in education and careers support. | The "refreshed" action plan will focus on areas such as raising awareness, improving assessment and addressing support issues, including in education and careers support. |