NHS pathways

Find your health board

The NHS pathway for ADHD and autism assessment works differently depending on where you live in Scotland. Each health board runs its own services, with different referral routes, waiting times, and availability. Find yours below.

NHS
Lothian Pathway documented

Edinburgh · East Lothian · Midlothian · West Lothian. FOI: combined ADHD & autism figures only, adults median 177 weeks with more than 25,000 people on its lists in total.

NHS
Greater Glasgow and Clyde Pathway documented

Glasgow City · Renfrewshire · East and West Dunbartonshire · Inverclyde · East Renfrewshire

NHS
Fife Pathway documented

Dunfermline · Kirkcaldy · Glenrothes · St Andrews

NHS
Tayside Service disruption

Dundee · Perth and Kinross · Angus. Children's referrals suspended March 2025.

NHS
Grampian Service disruption

Aberdeen City · Aberdeenshire · Moray. Adult autism team disbanded February 2025.

NHS
Forth Valley No specific pathway

Stirling · Falkirk · Clackmannanshire. No condition-specific ADHD or autism pathway. Adults via CMHT where criteria are met. CAMHS median wait: 5 weeks (2026 FOI).

NHS
Dumfries & Galloway No pathway, Section 17

Dumfries · Stranraer · Castle Douglas. Board confirmed no adult ADHD or autism assessment service (July 2026 FOI response); waiting-time data not held (Section 17 of FOISA).

NHS
Lanarkshire Pathway documented

Hamilton · East Kilbride · Motherwell · Airdrie · Cumbernauld. Combined neurodevelopmental service, not split by condition; 11,094 children and 3,592 adults waiting (2026 FOI).

NHS
Ayrshire & Arran Referrals restricted

Ayr · Kilmarnock · Irvine · Arran. Full FOI figures provided, but new children's neurodevelopmental referrals are currently restricted.

NHS
Highland Adult referrals restricted

Inverness · Fort William · Oban · Wick. Adult ADHD referrals restricted to the most severe cases; no children's waiting data held (Section 17).

NHS
Borders Pathway unclear

Galashiels · Hawick · Peebles · Kelso. Adult ADHD and autism diagnostic assessment is offered only to those with moderate to severe mental illness; records are held on paper, so all waiting-time figures were refused (Section 12).

NHS
Western Isles Pathway documented

Stornoway · Balivanich · Castlebay. Published children's neurodevelopmental pathway; the adult service started in August 2024 and runs differently from mainland boards.

NHS
Shetland Not publicly documented

Lerwick · Scalloway · Brae. CAMHS covers ADHD and autism diagnosis for children; adult assessment runs via visiting consultants. FOI response overdue, promised by 7 August 2026.

NHS
Orkney Not publicly documented

Kirkwall · Stromness. Scotland's smallest board by population; much provision is delivered via visiting or mainland services. In breach of our FOI deadline.

Information is sourced from publicly published health board documents, Freedom of Information requests, and the Scottish Parliament Health, Social Care and Sport Committee's inquiry report on ADHD and autism pathways (January 2026). Service availability changes, always confirm current provision with your GP or the relevant health board directly. Last reviewed August 2026.