This event was made possible by sponsorship from organisations including pharmaceutical companies, med tech companies and service providers none of which influenced the event content or the choice of speakers. Sessions delivered with input from these organisations were marked as such on the programme.

See all sponsors and exhibitors at this event

Empowering the future: Advancing autism training for today and tomorrow's professionals

Time slot
Tuesday 12 May 2026 - 11:00-12:15
Room
Hall 11
Session type
Workshop

About this workshop

Over the past 30 years, autism referrals have increased exponentially (Darzi), with a 400% rise since 2019. However, diagnostic service capacity has not kept pace. Even where funding has improved, there remains a shortage of the highly skilled multidisciplinary workforce necessary to meet demand (Parr et al 2024). Building on a recent national survey examining the confidence of trainees and new consultants in assessing children for possible autism, this workshop will focus on identifying the training needs of paediatricians to develop a diagnostic workforce ready to meet both the future demand and growing complexity neurodevelopmental caseload. 

Speakers

  • Dr Claire Stewart – National Trainee Representative BACCH, CCH ST6Professor David Skuse – Professor of Behavioural & Brain Sciences, Institute of Child Health
  • Dr Hilary Toulmin – Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge
  • Dr Ian Male – Academic Officer BACCH, Consultant Community Paediatrician
  • Joy Keenan – Autistic medical student
  • Gill Middleditch – Advanced Clinical Practitioner
  • Steffan Nestler – Clinical Psychologist
  • Penny Williams – Consultant speech and language therapist
Clinical: Community and public health Clinical: Mental health and neurodiversity Included for virtual delegates