Supporting Organisation: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
About Emin's fellowship project
Title: Mapping CPFT-recorded pathways to adult autism assessment: Recognition intervals, service touchpoints and opportunities for earlier identification
Autism is often recognised late in adults, many of whom are already well known to mental health services by the time it is considered. Autistic traits can be masked or misread when someone presents with anxiety, depression, psychosis, self-harm or emotional dysregulation. National waiting-time standards start at referral to an autism team, so the earlier period, when a person may have had years of mental health contact before autism is raised, goes unmeasured; little UK NHS evidence quantifies it.
This retrospective cohort study uses routine electronic health records from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) for adults referred for specialist autism assessment between 2015 and 2025. It will measure the interval from first recorded mental health contact to autism referral, separate this recognition delay from post-referral waiting, identify which demographic, diagnostic and service-use factors are linked to longer delay, including inequalities by age, sex, ethnicity and deprivation, show where in the pathway recognition happens or is missed, and estimate service use and costs accrued beforehand.
Findings will show CPFT where earlier recognition is possible, informing training, referral prompts and pathway redesign. For service users, earlier recognition supports more accurate formulation, appropriate adjustments and less time in care that does not fit. Outputs include a pathway map, an inequalities briefing and a reproducible method for use elsewhere.
Contact Emin: Emin.Erkal@cpft.nhs.uk