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The Place Director (Wirral), NHS Cheshire and Merseyside and Chief Nurse and Director of Infection, Prevention and Control Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust jointly presented the report of the Place Director (Wirral), NHS Cheshire and Merseyside and the Chief Executive, Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust and Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust which stated that NHS Cheshire & Merseyside (NHS C&M) had been working with NHS providers, Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH) and Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (WCHC), to develop a plan to address the growing number of children waiting for neurodiagnostic assessments and appropriate diagnosis. The report set out a business case that included a 3-year recovery and improvement plan outlining the resources required to manage the current waiting lists and fully implement the new co-designed Cheshire and Merseyside model. The report also highlighted that, if approved by NHS C&M, successful implementation would be interdependent with improvements in other areas of Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision, such Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and the Graduated Approach.

Members queried the links with the Transforming Care Programme, plans to reduce waiting lists and communication with parents.

The Chair indicated that she intended to write as Chair on behalf of the Board to endorse the plan.

Resolved – That

1. The proposal from the NHS for a 3-year recovery and improvement plan outlining the resources required to manage the current waiting lists and fully implement the new co-designed Cheshire and Merseyside neurodevelopmental model be noted.

2. The engagement with the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Partnership Board and other system partners in the development of this proposal be noted.

3. The decision on this proposal would be made by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside as part of the 2025/26 planning round be noted.