Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy hits out at neurodivergence assessment wait

Mary Kelly Foy, MP for City of Durham, has highlighted the "postcode lottery" that exists for assessments when it comes to neurodivergence. 

Neurodivergent is a non-medical umbrella term that describes people with variation in their mental functions. It can include conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other neurological or developmental conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

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On Friday (September 22), Ms Foy argued the “The Government must end the current postcode lottery that sees children waiting years for an assessment," as she delivered a personal keynote speech at Durham University’s Centre for Neurodiversity and Development Conference.

In her speech, she outlined the challenges that people with autism and neurodivergence face in education and the workplace and the need to challenge stereotypes.

Ms Foy cited research from University College London suggesting there may be over “one million people in Britain with autism” much higher than the “far more than the 700,000-figure cited by the government”.

Mary Kelly Foy MP with other conference speakers at Durham University (Image: MARY KELLY FOY MP)

The Labour MP cited the experience of her son, who was recently diagnosed with ADHD in his thirties.

Despite what should have been a “life-changing diagnosis”, her son had not received any follow-up services beyond access to medication.

However, Ms Foy criticised the government inaction, branding growing waiting lists “completely unacceptable”. Waiting lists for neurological assessment have risen by 47% in a year to over 140,000 people in England. This figure is a 360% increase on pre pandemic waiting list level of 35,000.

The MP also drew attention to the barriers faced by autistic and neurodiverse people accessing education, stating there is a “dearth of SEN school, which the Department for Education is not taking as seriously as it ought to”.

Ms Foy spoke of her daughter, Maria, who was born with cerebral palsy and to whom the City of Durham MP was a parent carer to.

Mary Kelly Foy MP Speaking at Durham University (Image: MARY KELLY FOY MP)

Speaking of the influence of Maria’s life on her passion for disability rights, she said: “[Maria] was born ten weeks premature.

"And needed a ventilator to help her breathe. A ventilator - a basic piece of hospital equipment, but it wasn’t available in the hospital or the surrounding hospitals. As a result, it left my daughter to live with severe cerebral palsy for the rest of her life.

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“Now, I know that this is not the same as autism, but it reinforced my empathy for anyone who has a disability - As well as those who support disabled people.- It also made me realise something: Well-funded public services save lives”.

Highlighting her experiences of the difficulties raising a child with SEN, the Durham MP praised “the work being done by the Centre for Neurodiversity and Development. And the SEND and Inclusion Service, knowing it Will be “of great support to the parents of autistic people, too.”

Ms Foy Added: “My experience as a parent carer, bringing up a disabled child, my son’s experience with ADHD, and my sisters’ experience teaching in a school for autistic children, strengthens my view that disability is caused by society creating barriers - whether they are attitudinal barriers or physical barriers.”