Highland MSP calls for progress as more than 1900 children on waiting list for neurodevelopmental assessment
More than 1900 children and young people are on the waiting list for neurodevelopmental assessment, according to figures shared by a Highland MSP.
Conservative MSP Edward Mountain questioned John Swinney at First Minister’s Questions last week about when the Scottish Government’s Neuro developmental assessment service (NDAS) report on the five “tests of change” — a systematic way of testing specific, small-scale changes to improve a process or system — will be published.
At the beginning of 2022, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted by Edward Mountain showed that there were 562 children and young people on NHS Highland’s waiting list.
However new information shared by Mr Mountain shows that NHS Highland confirmed last month that this number has nearly quadrupled to 1958 — a 15 per cent increase from the figures revealed by the Inverness Courier in August 2024.
NHS Highland also admitted that some children will have to wait in excess of five years to even get an assessment, and that it will likely take 15 years to fully clear the waiting list.
Mr Mountain called these waiting times “unacceptable”, and highlighted how parents are being forced to privately fund care to ensure that their children can get the most from their schooling.
In answer, the First Minister indicated that the “tests of change” report would be published in the summer.
Mr Mountain said: “I was disappointed by the First Minister’s response today when I raised that there are 1958 children and young people on NDAS waiting lists, some of whom will have to wait over 5 years for assessment.
“This figure has nearly quadrupled since 2022.
“The First Minister’s failure to criticise the waiting times demonstrates a disregard for the situation parents and children are finding themselves in, where some are being forced to pay for private assessment.
“The system is broken if it will take NHS Highland 15 years to clear the NDAS waiting list, so it is imperative that the Scottish Government publishes the ‘tests of change’ report as soon as possible.”
