Our Current Appointment Waits
What you can expect
We will call you or send you a letter to let you know what has happened with your referral and what is going to happen next.
- This might be an assessment with our specialist service or directing you to someone who can support you in your local community.
We have included some tips and resources below to support yourself that other young people and their families have found useful while waiting for the next step in their journey.
We are always looking to improve the experience of young people who are waiting for appointments. If you have any feedback or ideas of things to include on this page, we’d love to hear from you.
How long do I have to wait for an appointment?
Awaiting a diagnosis for your child from the Neurodevelopmental Service in Cardiff?
We recognize the substantial demand for this service and understand the frustration that can arise due to the lengthy assessment and diagnostic process.
Acknowledging this concern, we are actively collaborating with the Welsh Government and other stakeholders to enhance and expedite the Neurodevelopmental Service. It’s crucial to recognize that receiving a diagnosis isn’t an immediate solution; the process can be time-consuming and doesn’t guarantee resolution of all challenges.
Moreover, it’s essential to understand that educational and social service support and interventions are needs-driven, not solely reliant on a diagnosis.
Even with a diagnosis, increased support is not automatic. However, we want to assure you that your child doesn’t have to wait for an assessment to access help. Support is already available within your community.
Our aim is to improve your overall experience, providing you with information about what to expect, potential challenges, and connecting you with available support services. We believe in empowering you with the knowledge and resources needed to navigate this process effectively and ensure your child receives the appropriate assistance promptly.
Ahead of my appointment
Ahead of your appointment, it may be helpful to ask yourself:
- What challenges are you facing? How long have these challenges been going on for?
- What would you like to be different? How would you know if things were different?
- How might these challenges have started?
- What has been helpful or unhelpful so far?
- Who’s in your family and how do you all get on?
- What support has already been accessed within your school and the wider community?
- What is life like at school and with your friends?
- How has your mood been recently? Have you been feeling stressed or low?
- What do you want to achieve or change?
It might also be useful to do the following:
- Keep a diary of issues or feelings that you are worried about
- Track your mood and what’s been happening with you for a few days – you could use one of the apps listed on our Resources page
- Think about any questions you may want to ask your practitioner
Our resources
We have a lot of information, advice and resources available in this section all for young people.
Have a click through and you might find something useful.
We’re always looking for ways to improve the content available on this website. If something on this website has been useful or there’s something missing that would be helpful, contact us to let us know.