How long is the NHS autism assessment waiting list in Aberdeen?
Freedom of Information data compiled in 2026 recorded a median wait of around 130 weeks — roughly two and a half years — for adult autism assessment across Aberdeen City and Moray, with 1,838 adults waiting. Earlier Freedom of Information figures reported in 2023 indicated fewer than six per cent of adult autism referrals in Grampian were assessed over a two-year period. Our private service has no waiting list.
Is there any NHS autism service in Aberdeenshire?
No. Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership disbanded its adult autism and ADHD assessment pathway in February 2025 after Scottish Government funding ended, leaving Aberdeenshire adults without a local NHS assessment route. Around 800 adults were waiting for an autism diagnosis at the point of closure. Aberdeen City and Moray continue to run a service, but with waits of around two and a half years.
How much does a private autism assessment cost for Aberdeen patients?
Our private autism assessment is £1,500 paid in full, or available on a monthly payment plan from £375 per month. The fee includes the full diagnostic pathway and your written report. If you'd like both autism and ADHD assessed together, a combined assessment is £1,950 pay-in-full or £487 per month — more cost-effective than booking each separately.
Do Aberdeen patients need to travel for the assessment?
No — most Grampian patients are assessed entirely online via secure video. Adult assessments are routinely completed remotely, which suits patients across rural Aberdeenshire and Moray as well as the city. For children, parent interviews and feedback sessions are online; only the direct child observation may require an in-person visit to our Edinburgh or Glasgow clinic, depending on the case.
Do I need a GP referral for a private autism assessment?
No. You can self-refer directly to our service. We will, however, request your consent to liaise with your Aberdeen or Grampian GP to ensure continuity of care and to support shared care arrangements after diagnosis.
Is a private autism diagnosis recognised by NHS Grampian and schools?
Yes. Our diagnoses are provided by GMC-registered consultant psychiatrists who are members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, using DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 criteria and SIGN 145 standards. Reports are accepted by NHS Scotland, Grampian schools, employers and the DWP.
Can adults be diagnosed with autism for the first time?
Yes. A large proportion of our adult patients are diagnosed for the first time in their 20s, 30s, 40s or later. This is particularly common in women and individuals with strong masking abilities, whose autistic traits were not recognised in childhood. Adult-first diagnosis is one of our specialist areas.
Do you assess both autism and ADHD?
Yes. Autism and ADHD frequently co-occur, and we assess both within a single consultant-led pathway. This matters particularly in Grampian, where the disbanded Aberdeenshire pathway covered both conditions and where adults who suspect both would otherwise face two separate NHS routes with different waits.
