Autism specialist changed diagnosis on newsreader Thomson's son

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Autism specialist changed diagnosis on newsreader Thomson's son after

pressure by schools chiefs

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Last updated at 1:02 AM on 05th April 2009

An NHS trust has been told to apologise to Channel 4 newsreader Thomson and

his family after admitting that it changed his son's diagnosis under pressure

from council officials.

An official inquiry has already found that the trust overturned its expert

assessment that the boy was autistic – at the behest of the council, which was

reluctant to meet the full cost of caring for him.

Now, following a three-year battle, Mr Thomson and his partner Spiller are

complaining to Education Secretary Ed Balls about the way eight-year-old Henry

was treated. They are also considering legal action against the trust.

The case will strike a chord with thousands of parents who fear that councils

are saving money at the expense of disabled children.

Mr Thomson, 48, and Ms Spiller secured the backing of the Healthcare Commission

– the official `watchdog' for the health system – which criticised the Princess

andra Hospital NHS Trust in Essex and said that it should apologise. Ms

Spiller told The Mail on Sunday that she is yet to receive the full apology.

Henry and twin were born in 2000 and Henry's problems became apparent

shortly before his third birthday. Ms Spiller, also 48, said: `He was diagnosed

with an aggressive epilepsy. We were told then that Henry might have severe

learning difficulties and would need a great deal of help at school.

'When he was diagnosed as being on " the autistic spectrum " , we were not

surprised, even though the news was shattering.'

After an assessment by an educational psychologist at Essex Local Education

Authority, the LEA offered limited one-to-one help for Henry, so the couple

started paying for a special programme at school.

But they returned to Essex LEA hoping that, in light of the `autistic spectrum'

diagnosis, they would reassess his needs. Ms Spiller said: `Instead of them

re-examining Henry, we were told that our paediatrician had decided that he did

not have autism after all.'

It took a bruising 14-month legal fight to have their son's disabilities fully

recognised. Eventually, the LEA settled at a special needs tribunal in March

2007, agreeing to fund a full autism programme for Henry.

But six months later, his consultant paediatrician discharged him from her care,

claiming the parents had made it impossible for her to continue.

The couple took their case to the Healthcare Commission – now part of the new

Care Quality Commission.

In its finding, the commission said the trust should apologise to the couple,

adding that they did not consider the explanation the trust had given was

`accurate or adequate'.

Ms Spiller said: `It seems that the LEA rings the doctor and the doctor says

he's not autistic at all. A miracle cure! In a letter the chief executive of the

trust stated that the paediatrician " admits that she was under some degree of

pressure from the education officer to withdraw her diagnosis " .'

A trust spokesman said it has apologised to the couple and that it has reviewed

its procedures.

A spokesman for the education authority said: `We have not been given access to

the report and are therefore unable to comment.'