The following exchange took place in the House of Commons on 15th August 2012, and should be of interest to any carer, realtive or parent of an adult with an ASD
Valerie Vaz (Walsall South, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) he, (b) the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence or (c) the National Commissioning Board will monitor progress towards implementation of the autism clinical guideline.
Norman Lamb (North Norfolk, Liberal Democrat)
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its clinical guideline to the national health service on diagnosis and management of autistic spectrum conditions in adults in June 2012. This is a huge step forward to help embed the needs of adults with autism into the health and social care system.
Departmental officials will promote these guidelines as part of the work programme associated with Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives, the strategy for adults with autism in England, and will work with the Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health to develop a best practice guide for autism to support implementation of the statutory and NICE guidance.
***
NICE’s Clinical Guideline 142 Autism: recognition, referral,diagnosis and managementof adults on the autism spectrum is available here, and would make useful reading for anyone supporting an adult on the autistic spectrum through assessment/reassessment.
Rescare awaits with interest the afore-mentioned best practice guide.