Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) have previously communicated the difficulties in meeting the level of demand for autism and ADHD assessments and the number of children and young people currently on the waiting lists.
We can now confirm that an agreement has been reached with Blackpool Teaching Hospitals (BTH) regarding the autism pathway in Lancashire. Further details are shared below.
Bay Medical Group, Heysham Primary Care Centre
Bay Medical Group, Morecambe Health Centre
Bay Medical Group, West End Medical Practice
Bay Medical Group, Westgate Surgery
Bay Medical Group, York Bridge Surgery
Lancaster Medical Practice
Queen Square Medical Practice
Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) continue to work together to identify new arrangements for the un-commissioned children and young people's ADHD and ASD service for those with no additional mental health diagnosis.
We remain committed to providing the most suitable future sustainable model for our children and young people and their families and continue to recognise the long waits that young people are currently experiencing.
Update to autism referrals pathway - Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB have been working through arrangements to commission additional capacity to increase appointments for autism assessments and are now working to safely manage the transfer of the waiting lists.
Children and young people previously referred to LSCFT for autism assessment, who has not yet had their referral triaged or where triage information may have changed or require updating, will be transferred to Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTH) on 1 June 2026.This change is for school aged assessment of autism.
Update to ADHD referrals pathway – Existing referral processes for this pathway remain in place. An update will be provided in the coming months as these arrangements are finalised with all partners.
Referrers, GPs and schools and the families / carers of the children and young people affected are aware of these new arrangements.
Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) have previously communicated the difficulties in meeting the level of demand for autism and ADHD assessments and the number of children and young people currently on the waiting lists.
Blackpool Teaching Hospital (BTH) began accepting referrals for the Central and West areas of Lancashire from 1 August 2025 and we are pleased to announce that they have also now been commissioned to receive and triage referrals for the North of Lancashire, effective from 1 June 2026. This pathway is for all children and young people aged 5 to their 16th birthday and registered with a GP in North Lancashire. For a full list of GP practices, please see LSC Integrated Care Board: CYP neurodevelopmental pathway.
Any new referrals for autism assessment must be completed on the BTH referral form and submitted via bfwh.centrallancs.ndp@nhs.net. The ICB is working to integrate this referral form on to EMIS to streamline this process for Primary Care.
Download the BTH referral form
Referrals will be triaged with an outcome of triage letter provided to the referrer along with advice and guidance for the family. The agreed timeframes for this service are set for all referrals to receive a triage outcome within six weeks of the receipt of the referral. If a referral is accepted, the child or young person will be placed on a waiting list for assessment. Any child or young person that has already been referred to LSCFT for autism assessment, who has not yet had their referral triaged or where triage information and presentation may have changed, will also be transferred to BTH. LSCFT will contact children, young people and families affected by this transfer directly.
The Blackpool Neuro Developmental (ND) Team have also been commissioned to complete a number of full autism assessments for children and young people accepted onto the waiting list from Central, West and North Lancashire. In the meantime, the ICB is working with partners to establish a new full assessment pathway, and details will be released as soon as they are available. We would also like to assure families in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre that this will not have any effect on their pathway journey or service they receive from BTH.
Some children and young people experiencing long waits will be transferred for an updated triage/assessment to ensure timely review and confirm whether an autism assessment remains clinically indicated.”
We would encourage referrers to direct families to support via the Lancashire Local Offer and the ICB ND webpage:
We have developed a webpage specifically for information and updates regarding the Neurodevelopmental Pathway; this can be found at LSC Integrated Care Board :: CYP neurodevelopmental pathway.
For any queries or concerns related specifically to the new referral and triage process or experiences by families, please contact the Blackpool ND team on 01253 952852 or 952503. For any other queries or concerns please contact lscicb.communications@nhs.net
Referrals for ADHD assessment are continuing to be accepted as normal from Health, education and social care professionals. The ICB is working collaboratively with LSCFT around a similar solution for ADHD and further communication will be shared as soon as the process, including timescales, has been finalised.
Who does this effect?
This change in the autism referral process affects children in North Lancashire aged 5-16. We identify children and young people based on the GP practice that they are registered with and a list of practices affected can be found on the ICB webpage.
Children and young people referred to LSCFT for autism assessment and have not yet had a formal assessment will be transferred to BTH.
Children and young people already referred to LSCFT for ADHD assessment will be contacted once an agreement is reached.
Why has the autism pathway changed?
The waiting list for autism / ADHD assessments in Lancashire and South Cumbria has grown and Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation NHS Trust (LSCFT) have been working hard to manage the lists for this uncommissioned service with limited resources. To help reduce the waiting times for those already on the list, the Integrated Care Board (ICB) as commissioner and BTH have confirmed that BTH will accept any new autism referrals from 1 June 2026.
BTH will also accept the transfer of children and young people from the LSCFT waiting list – those children will remain in the same place on the waiting list.
When will the new autism pathway be available?
Blackpool Teaching Hospital has now been commissioned to provide a service for new referrals for children and young people aged 5 to their 16th birthday and registered with a GP in North Lancashire. This service for new referrals will be effective from 1 June 2026.
If a referral is accepted, the child or young person will be placed on a waiting list for a diagnostic assessment.
How do I refer into the new autism pathway?
Referrals will be accepted from a professional who knows the child or young person well and who is able to supply all the information needed to enable effective triage.
This will include paediatricians, child and adolescent psychiatrists, SENCOs, educational psychologists, clinical psychologists, therapists, school nurses and CAMHS practitioners.
Referral details can be found at LSC Integrated Care Board :: Central and West Lancashire pathway update.
What happens if I am already on the LSCFT waiting list?
If your formal assessment has already commenced and you are currently being seen, this will continue with LSCFT.
However, if your triage was a while ago and the information is now out of date, you would be transferred to BTH to enable this to happen more quickly. If your referral has not yet been triaged it will be transferred to BTH. These patients will be contacted separately by LSCFT.
If you’re already on the waiting list for ADHD assessment you will be contacted by LSCFT once an agreement is reached.
What happens if I am already on the BTH waiting list for autism assessment?
If you live in Central or West Lancashire and have already been accepted onto the waiting list for autism assessment BTH will be in touch to discuss next steps. Families in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre will be unaffected, and their pathway will continue as normal.
Will I have to travel to Blackpool for an appointment?
We are working hard to find locations that are local to families. Should you need an appointment for an assessment BTH will be in touch with further details.
Who can I contact with any queries?
For any queries or concerns related specifically to BTH’s autism assessment processes or experiences by families, please contact the Blackpool School-age ND team on 01253 952852 or 952503.
For any other queries or concerns please contact lscicb.communications@nhs.net
Where can I access support?
The support offer for Lancashire can be accessed via the local offer website and the ICB website:
Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) - local offer - Lancashire County Council
LSC Integrated Care Board :: CYP neurodevelopmental pathway
The ICB are currently in the process of commissioning additional support services for children and young people. We will share more details on this with you as things progress.
What happens next?
The ICB recognises that this is a temporary solution to a wider systemic challenge in our existing pathways for how we assess and diagnose children and young people and support them and their families. There remains full commitment from the ICB in a full transformation programme, and we are continuing to work with partners to ensure that a permanent and long term full diagnostic pathway is in place during 2027/28.