This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Funding to improve autism services
24/01/2005
A national network for Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) is to be developed over the next two years with a £300,000 funding package from the Executive.
And NHS Highland is to receive £90,000 to further develop ASD services in the north of Scotland.
Deputy Health Minister Rhona Brankin made the announcements today as she formally opened a new centre in Glasgow offering a range of services to help those affected by ASDs.
Ms Brankin said:
"I am delighted to be opening this important resource which will offer diagnosis, information, advice and support to a number of groups including people with autism, their families, carers and practitioners.
"Improving diagnosis of ASDs will lead to greater demands on existing services provided by local agencies.
"I am very pleased to be able to announce today the award of £300,000 over two years for the development of a National Service Network for Autism.
"This network will support local agencies throughout Scotland to deliver better services for those affected by ASDs.
"I am also pleased to be able to announce funding of almost £90,000 to NHS Highland over two years to further develop ASD services in the north of Scotland.
"This project will pay particular attention to the needs of young people leaving school and moving to adult services.
"It is important to remember that while we are making great progress in the provision of services our work is by no means complete.
"We are currently working in consultation with members of the Cross-Party Group to plan a national conference to address the health needs of people with ASD. We also need to influence a wider audience on the need for appropriate training and support for staff who provide these invaluable services."
The Glasgow Autism Service (also referred to as Glasgow Autism Resource Centre) is being developed with funding of £750,000 over three years, which NHS Greater Glasgow was given by the Executive for a project that develops a model of inter-agency services for adults with ASD.
The Glasgow Autism Service will be run as a partnership between NHS Greater Glasgow Primary Care Division, Glasgow City Council Social Work Services, National Autistic Society, Scottish Society for Autism and Strathclyde Autistic Society.
The Service is staffed by 11 professional staff including a clinical psychologist, input from psychiatry, a speech and language therapist, local autism coordinators, clinical autism co-ordinators and an information officer.
The National Service Network is provided by the National Centre for Autism Studies at the University of Strathclyde.
The Executive's ASD Reference Group and its related sub groups are taking forward the recommendations of the Public Health Institute of Scotland (PHIS) report which carried out a Scottish needs assessment of services for people with ASDs.