Autism assessment in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

In short

• Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own health services, so routes differ from England.
• In Scotland, NHS boards provide assessment. Pathways for children and adults vary by area.
• In Wales, children are seen by health board neurodevelopmental services. Adults can often contact an Integrated Autism Service.
• In Northern Ireland, specialist teams in Health and Social Care Trusts carry out assessments.
• Details, referral forms and waiting times change, so always check your local service.

Scotland

Autism assessment in Scotland is organised by NHS boards. Services are not the same across the country, and the Scottish Government has said that work is under way to make adult pathways more consistent.

For children, the Scottish Government has set out national standards for neurodevelopmental care. These standards apply to children and young people with neurodevelopmental differences, whether or not they meet the criteria for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

For adults, provision varies by health board. Some areas have a dedicated adult pathway and others do not. Ask your GP how to be referred in your area, and ask the NHS board which service is responsible for you.

Wales

Children and young people. Each of the seven health boards runs a children and young people's neurodevelopmental assessment and diagnosis service. Parents can ask their GP for a referral if they have concerns. Some teams accept referrals from a health professional who knows the child, and they may ask for parental consent and evidence of concern about communication, social interaction or repetitive behaviours.

Adults. Wales has seven Integrated Autism Services (IAS). Each one is a partnership between a health board and a local council. Rules vary by area. Some accept self-referrals, GP referrals or referrals from family members, and some only cover certain local authority areas or set an age limit. Check which service covers your area.

Some adults already receiving mental health, learning disability or social care support may find that the IAS advises their existing team rather than providing direct support. Ask the service how it works for you.

Northern Ireland

You, or your child, can be referred by a GP, by any health professional you or your child see, or by the school's SENCO. The referral is usually made to the local Health and Social Care Trust.

Assessments are carried out by autism specialists within your local Trust area. Each Trust runs its own services, and the names of child and adult pathways differ between Trusts. The process can take weeks or months.

Waiting times vary between Trusts and age groups, so contact your Trust or GP for local information.

Private assessments are available in Northern Ireland, but costs vary. Before you pay, check whether your local Trust accepts the provider's diagnostic reports, and ask whether early follow-up support is offered. Autism NI and the National Autistic Society NI can give further advice.

Questions to ask your service

• Which service is responsible for me or my child?
• Who can refer, and what information do they need from me?
• What is the current waiting time, and what happens while I wait?
• Will you accept a private assessment report, and what format do you need it in?
• What support is available now, before the assessment is complete?

If you are not sure who to contact, your GP practice can usually tell you which local service covers you.

This guide is general information, not medical advice.