CHARITY LAUNCHES NEW SERVICE IN FACE OF LONG NHS WAITING LIST

A DISABILITY charity has started running “life-changing” autism and ADHD assessments for £2,000 as a response to hefty NHS waiting lists.

- By GEORGE PALMER-SOADY

The Portland Charity, which runs Portland College in Mansfield, supports people with a range of disabilities.

It has now begun running assessments for autism and ADHD for people aged 13 and over.

Autism assessments are provided by both the NHS and private healthcare companies.

But - according to the National Autistic Society - there are over 200,000 people on the NHS waiting list, with some waiting for years to be seen.

This is despite Government guidance saying that no-one should wait longer than 13 weeks to be seen.

Portland College says it began running private assessments as a response to this.