Autism Involvment Group – June 2019
AIG meeting held on 4th June 2019
Summary
This AIG discussions included:
Update on latest version of Autism business case, the ‘Case for Change’ – Paul Giblin
A main theme of the Case for Change is that more support is needed in the community to reduce the amount of time spent in hospitals, as long stays in Hospitals are not always conducive to quicker recovery and general good health.
Paul Giblin talked the AIG through the presentation. It was agreed that members would note their thoughts and discuss them after the presentation has finished.
Firstly, Paul explained that a business case document used is using to argue for resources which will enable implementation of something.
Living Well with Autism is the strategy that underpins the Case for Change and has been discussed at previous meetings. The strategy is also available on the Dimensions for Autism website.
A main theme of the Case for Change is that more support is needed in the community to reduce the amount of time spent in hospitals, as long stays in Hospitals are not always conducive to quicker recovery and general good health.
The presentation included:
Supporting people with autism to be independent, safe and part of the community
- Context and purpose
- Issues across the Devon-wide system (known as the Sustainability & Transformation Partnership or STP) that we need to address
- Summary of business case proposals
- Develop multi-disciplinary system and local support
- Benefits of system and local multi-disciplinary resource
- Pre-diagnosis support & access to a diagnosis assessment
- Next steps
An important aim is to ensure that Autistic people are not discriminated against in mainstream health and social care services.
The Case for Change links into the Transforming for Care Programme which recognises that services closer to home are better than patients having to go further afield. Money will be available to improve services to make this happen over the next 4 years, with that early investment resulting in overall savings to the system in subsequent years.
Autistic people admitted out of County to specialist placements are often admitted under the Mental Health Act. They will be categorised as an Autistic person with a co-morbidity, and they would have to meet the thresholds of the Mental Health Act to require the admission. Being able to work more closely with local preventative services would reduce the need for people to be sent out of county.
Proposals set out in the business case:
- Develop multi-disciplinary post-diagnostic support at a system and local level;
- Develop pre-diagnosis support in voluntary and community sector; and
- Improve access to an assessment for a diagnosis of autism.
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) statement – Paul Giblin on behalf of Devon Partnership Trust (DPT)
At present PDA is not a recognised condition by the Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC), the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or the International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD), nor is it within National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance for ASC. DANA is only commissioned to provide diagnostic assessment for ASC and follows NICE guidance, therefore it is not commissioned to provide diagnostic assessment for PDA. PDA is being considered as part of the current Government review of the Autism Strategy. DANA along with all the other services currently involved in the case for change for Autism within Devon will need to consider how it respond to any recommendations in relation to PDA when it is published.