The National Autistic Society (NAS) has hit back at comments made today by Nigel Farage, MP and Leader of Reform UK, after he claimed that doctors are “massively over-diagnosing” children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and mental health conditions.
Speaking at a press conference, he said that “mental illness problems and those with other general behavioural disabilities” were overdiagnosed and this was “creating a class of victims in Britain that will struggle ever to get out of it.”
He added: “So many of these diagnoses, for SEND before 18, for disability register after 18 – so many of these have been conducted on Zoom, with the family GP.
“I think that is a massive mistake. I think you’re the family GP, and I’ve know your family for generations, and you’re saying to me there’s a real problem here with depression, or whatever it may be, it’s quite hard for me as your GP to say no. I don’t think any of these allocations should be done by family GPs. I think should be done independently.”
The NAS said his comments were wildly inaccurate and show that he’s completely out of touch with what autistic children and adults have to go through to get a diagnosis or any support at all.
Mel Merritt, Head of Policy and Campaigns, added: “For the record, absolutely no one has got an autism diagnosis through the GP – this is just incorrect, wrong, fake news. Children with SEND and disabled adults, including autistic people, are not victims who are being ‘overdiagnosed’.
“They are people who face huge delays and long fights to get the most basic support across every aspect of their lives, including diagnosis, education, health and social care. Spreading misinformation only perpetuates stigma and makes life harder. We’re calling on all politicians to drop the political point scoring and stand up for their autistic and other disabled constituents.”
