HSE Seeks Private Providers to Tackle Autism Assessment Waiting Lists
HSE establishes private panel to tackle autism assessment waiting lists for children and adolescents across Ireland, aiming to reduce delays for families.
The Health Service Executive is establishing a new panel of private service providers to deliver autism diagnostic assessments for children and adolescents across Ireland, as the health service struggles to meet increasing demand for these crucial evaluations.
The HSE announced today that it is seeking qualified service providers to join a bespoke panel arrangement designed to address growing waiting lists for Assessments of Need. The initiative will operate for one year with the possibility of a 12-month extension, subject to demand and budget approval.
Bernard Gloster, HSE CEO:
"Meeting the increasing demand for Assessments of Need is challenging and to help address this we are putting in place a Bespoke Panel Arrangement with suitable Panel Approved Providers. The Panel will be in place for one year with the option to extend for a further year, subject to demand and budget approval. Every effort is being made to have the Panel established as soon as possible so that more assessments can be made for the children on the waiting list."
The move represents a significant step towards addressing the backlog of autism assessments that has left many Cork families waiting months or years for their children to receive formal diagnoses. These assessments are essential for accessing appropriate educational supports and health services.
Private providers selected for the panel must demonstrate they have sufficient capacity and suitably qualified expertise to deliver comprehensive multi-disciplinary autism diagnostic assessments. The HSE emphasises that all assessments must use a neuro-diverse affirming approach, reflecting modern understanding of autism as a neurological difference rather than a deficit.
Service providers will be required to conduct assessments for children and adolescents who have been referred through official channels. Where an Assessment of Need is requested under the Disability Act 2005, providers must follow established protocols and HIQA standards, producing detailed summary reports.
An Assessment of Need aims to identify whether a person has a disability, determine its nature and extent, assess any resulting health and education needs, and outline what services are required. However, the HSE clarifies that an AON is not required to access basic health services including primary care, children's disability services, or mental health provisions.
The HSE has emphasised that every effort is being made to establish the panel as quickly as possible to begin reducing waiting times for families seeking answers and support for their children.
Service providers interested in joining the panel can find detailed application information on the government's eTenders website.
