Role of CAMHS in assessing children with suspected autism-spectrum disorder in Ireland

Ireland's national policy on mental healthcare services A Vision for Change (Department of Health and Children, 2006) describes the role of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in the assessment of autism as limited to consultation on difficult diagnoses and specialist episodic treatment of acute psychiatric disorders. However, in 2007, Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 became law and gave children with disabilities under 5 years of age entitlement to an independent assessment of their health and education needs, and a service statement identifying the services to be provided. Assessment officers oversee and coordinate the assessment and ensure that a report on its result is provided (Government of Ireland, 2007).

Our survey revealed that a quarter of the 214 children aged less than 5 years old who were referred to five Linn Dara CAMHS in Dublin (covering south inner city, south- and north-west Dublin and Co. Kildare) in the 10 months since the Act became law, were for autism-spectrum disorder assessment. In line with the recommendations of A Visions for Change, the majority of these referrals were considered inappropriate and effectively 80% of children referred for autism-spectrum disorder assessment were not seen.

Clearly this is not meeting the needs of children, and Linn Dara CAMHS, together with other CAMHS in Ireland, eagerly await the recommendations of the group set up by the Health Service Executive to clarify their role in the assessment of children with suspected autism and to make interim arrangements pending the development of the appropriate assessment services.