Autism assessment in Glasgow

What NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde reported about its autism waiting lists, how referral works, and where autistic adults and families in Glasgow can find support

Reviewed by ADHD Scot,

What the waiting lists actually look like

Autism assessment in the Glasgow area is the responsibility of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), Scotland's largest health board, which covers Glasgow City, Renfrewshire, East and West Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde, and East Renfrewshire.

The picture for autism in NHSGGC is lopsided, and it is worth understanding before you start. In response to our Freedom of Information request (FOI 2601315, figures extracted 5 July 2026), the board reported an adult autism median wait of 65 weeks, with 2,641 adults waiting. That is a long wait, but it is considerably shorter than the board's adult ADHD median of 111 weeks.

The heavier end is children and young people. School-age children faced a median wait of 105 weeks, with 4,921 waiting, alongside a separate pathway holding 2,060 pre-school children. A further 3,056 under-18s were waiting for a combined ADHD-and-autism assessment. Because NHSGGC runs one combined neurodevelopmental service for under-18s, assessing autism, ADHD and other conditions together, the true numbers are likely higher than any single figure suggests.

Full figures and sources are on our NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde page, you can read the redacted FOI response directly, and the NHS waiting times page compares all fourteen boards.

Adults: the referral route

For adults, referral goes through your GP to adult psychiatry, clinical psychology, or a specialist neurodevelopmental service. To give the referral the best chance:

  • Be specific about your traits; give examples from everyday life rather than general statements
  • Mention that traits have been present since childhood, even if they were not recognised at the time
  • Bring collateral history if you have it — school reports, letters from parents or teachers, or a written account from someone who knew you as a child
  • Complete our autism screener beforehand so you have something concrete to bring along
  • Ask specifically for a referral for autism assessment, and ask your GP to record the referral date

If your GP is reluctant, you have the right to ask why and to seek a second opinion from another GP within the same practice. The Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS) provides free, independent advice on your NHS rights in Scotland.

Children: one combined pathway

Referrals for children and young people typically go through CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) or community paediatrics, into the combined neurodevelopmental service described above. Given how long the children's lists are, remember that in Scotland support at school does not depend on a diagnosis; you can ask for adjustments while your child waits. Our NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde page covers the children's pathway step by step.

Going private in Glasgow

A number of private providers offer autism assessments in Glasgow and the surrounding area, either in-person or online. Private autism assessment typically costs more than private ADHD assessment, reflecting the greater time involved. Based on what providers generally charge as of 2026, expect to pay from around £800 upwards for a single-clinician adult assessment, and considerably more for multi-disciplinary assessments. Always ask for a written breakdown of what the fee covers. See our private autism assessment guide for more detail.

Regulation works differently for autism. Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) is Scotland's regulator for private healthcare, but a large proportion of private autism assessments are led by clinical psychologists, and HIS has confirmed that psychology-led services with no medical doctor, nurse, or other specified professional involved are not legally required to register. The absence of HIS registration is therefore common and is not, on its own, a red flag for an autism assessment provider. What matters is checking the individual clinician's registration with their professional body: psychologists should be on the HCPC Register and doctors on the GMC Medical Register. Our autism regulation page explains this in full.

What a proper assessment involves. A thorough autism assessment is not a questionnaire. According to SIGN 145, Scotland's clinical guideline for autism, it should include a detailed clinical interview, a validated diagnostic tool such as the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) or ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised), collateral history from someone who knew you in childhood, and a written diagnostic report. For children in particular, a multi-disciplinary team involving a psychiatrist, psychologist, and sometimes a speech and language therapist is standard; for adults, a single experienced clinician may be sufficient. Ask about the provider's approach before booking. Our compare tool shows which providers use validated tools.

Find private providers near Glasgow →

After diagnosis: what Glasgow offers

Unlike ADHD, there is no medication pathway or shared care arrangement following an autism diagnosis. The focus shifts to understanding your diagnosis, accessing support, and making practical adjustments.

Glasgow is better served than many parts of Scotland here. The Autism Resource Centre offers support specifically for autistic adults in the city, and the Glasgow City HSCP coordinates adult social care. NHSGGC also publishes information for autistic and neurodivergent people through its Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodivergence pages. Across Scotland, Scottish Autism provides support services, information, and training.

Your written diagnostic report is one of the most practically important things to come out of your assessment. You will need it for workplace reasonable adjustments, university support arrangements, and Adult Disability Payment (ADP) applications. Keep digital and physical copies.

NHS follow-up after an autism diagnosis varies within NHSGGC. Ask your GP or the diagnosing service what post-diagnostic support is available, including referral to occupational therapy or post-diagnostic support groups. Our after an autism diagnosis page has more guidance on next steps, including rights at work, ADP, and social care.

Useful links

ADHD Scot is an independent, non-clinical information project. Nothing here is medical advice. If you think you may be autistic, the right first step is a conversation with your GP.