By Access Pathway labelled ’emotionally and mentally draining’ as numerous parents come forward
The Access Pathway is the route for children and young people up to their 18th year, where support has been accessed prior and tested, but further multi-disciplinary discussions may be required. This scheme identifies further intervention or specialist assessments needed.
This includes children and young people with needs such as speech-language, communication, social interaction, learning difficulties, sensory difficulties, and neurodevelopmental difficulties
A local parent has spoken of their difficulty in receiving the support they need, stating they have been waiting for a significant time.
On their website, NELC has stated the approximate average waiting time from receiving the referral to the panel is 18 weeks.
“As with any service, the length of time it takes us to move through the process is affected by demand and the number of referrals that we receive,” NELC said on the page.
Following our story regarding a local parent, who spoke of their difficulty in receiving the support they need, stating they have been waiting for a significant time, many other parents have commented on their experiences through the scheme, below are some statements posted by them:
“As a parent who is only at the beginning of this process, I’m absolutely appalled. When will children with additional needs be made a priority? They don’t choose to need extra support, so why punish them by making them wait for help.” a local commented responding to the article.
“My son has had to delay starting school for a year already and we are STILL unsure about whether he can start in September for more than an hour at a time in a school that isn’t right for him. It’s taken ringing and nagging the LA until they were sick of me to get anywhere.” another added.
“Took me 13 years with my eldest and I’m going through exactly the same with my youngest!! If I lived down south they get help and a diagnosis etc within the first few years!”
“I’m also waiting for way beyond the timelines and my 13-year-old is severely struggling. Agencies won’t touch her because they can see an access pathway assessment is in progress. Please please help enlist the help of all your colleagues in NEL to help before the summer recess.”
“I have been battling for 4 years for my daughter, I ticked all the boxes and jumped through all the hoops to get a referral to access pathway, and as the school wouldn’t refer my GP did. The referral was refused because they wanted schools involvement (who were refusing) and said they wanted a professional to complete the application a person who knew my daughter best only replying that a GP is a professional and as a mum, I know my daughter best they still refused.
“The lady on the telephone suggested I should ask myself if I was prepared for an 18-month/2-year journey for a possible diagnosis that may not even help my daughter access the help she needs in the future. I am still battling and have now been told I will have to pay privately as my daughter’s suspected condition isn’t diagnosed by this NHS authority.
“I have already paid out £2000 for private assessments for Dyslexia and Irlns syndrome. The whole process is emotionally and mentally draining for parent and child and it shouldn’t be this difficult to prove the disability and gain the help required.”
“As someone who works with these children 1:1, the delay in assessment and intervention is absolutely appalling!! Should be ashamed.”a user responded to the article on social media.
“The whole system is completely flawed. Even when you submit you often get the run around of not enough evidence and paperwork returned. If you have a school that denies all knowledge and refuses to admit your child has difficulties you have a million more difficulties and this is often the case with primary schools.
“Then if you get your case to panel it’s often suggested you attend a parenting course or the panel review it in six months to a year. All the time the child suffers. Years and months pass by and the concept of early intervention has fallen by the wayside!! Dozens of parents have been shouting from the rooftops about the appalling access pathway for many years….. to what end. Families in complete crisis and mental health at an all-time low. But NELC has to watch those pennies.” another frustrated parent said.
