Council cash snub hits autism sufferers

AUTISM and Aspergers sufferers in Edinburgh are to miss out on support with things such as employment, socialising and counselling after the city council decided not to fund a care scheme.

Autism Initiatives is having to scale back the work it does in the Capital after only receiving money from NHS Lothian, East Lothian Council, Midlothian Council and West Lothian Council.

It set up the Number Six service in the Lothian three years ago with Scottish Government money. However, as that money was due to run out it asked local authorities and the health board to plug the gap, with the councils asked to pay an amount reflecting the size of their population.

Edinburgh was asked for about £27,000 but refused and as a result Number Six will take no new referrals for people living in the city, except for those newly diagnosed by the regional diagnostic health team at NHS Lothian.

Richard Ibbotson, national director Scotland for Autism Initiatives, said: "We will have to restrict aspects of the service to people in Edinburgh."

Cllr Paul Edie, the city's health and social care spokesman, said: "This year we were unable to find new funding for this project which we have never previously supported."