ADHD and autism assessment in Perth

Adult referrals run through your GP, most new children's referrals are closed, and NHS Tayside holds no waiting-list figures for Perth and Kinross. Here is where that leaves you.

Reviewed by ADHD Scot,

Where Perth and Kinross fits in NHS Tayside

There is no Perth-specific NHS ADHD or autism service. Assessment for Perth, Perthshire, and Kinross is organised by NHS Tayside, the health board serving around 416,000 people across Perth and Kinross, Dundee City, and Angus. Adult referrals go from your GP to the board's adult mental health services; children's referrals go through CAMHS, where a significant restriction has been in place since March 2025 (see below).

Because the service is organised at board level, the only waiting-list figures the board could report to us cover Dundee. That matters for Perth residents in a specific way, confirmed by our own Freedom of Information work.

No waiting-list figures exist for Perth and Kinross

NHS Tayside answered a Freedom of Information request from ADHD Scot (submitted 24 June 2026, answered only after the statutory deadline and formal escalation, ref IGTFOISA26481). The board could give adult waiting-list headcounts for the Dundee area only: 632 adults waiting for an ADHD-related appointment and 885 for an autism-related appointment. The Perth and Kinross and Angus partnerships have no separate ADHD or autism pathways and hold no figures at all (Section 17 of FOISA). No median waiting times were given for any area.

The practical consequence: if you are referred from Perth or anywhere in Perthshire, the board cannot currently tell you your position on a waiting list or how long you are likely to wait. You can see the full response on our NHS Tayside page and compare every board on our NHS waiting times page.

Adults: getting referred through your GP

The adult route starts with a GP appointment. To make it count:

  • Ask your GP directly whether an adult ADHD or autism assessment pathway is currently open in Tayside, and which service the referral will go to
  • Give specific examples of how your symptoms affect everyday life rather than general descriptions
  • Mention that symptoms have been present since childhood, even if nobody recognised them at the time
  • Bring a completed screener. Our ADHD self-screener or autism screener gives you something concrete to hand over
  • Ask for a written record of when the referral was sent

If your GP is reluctant, you are entitled to ask why and to seek a second opinion from another GP within the same practice.

Children and young people

In March 2025, NHS Tayside CAMHS stopped accepting new ADHD or autism referrals for children who do not also have a co-existing mental health condition. Around 4,500 children in Tayside were already on the neurodevelopmental pathway at that point. Children already on the waiting list should retain their place, but many new referrals from Perthshire families can no longer be added.

While the restriction lasts, families still have options. Schools must support children with additional needs under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, and no diagnosis is required to access that support. You can also ask your GP to be notified if the restriction is lifted, and raise the situation with your MSP. The NHS Tayside page sets these steps out in full. Confirm the current position with your GP before assuming a referral will be declined, as it may change.

Private assessment for people in Perthshire

Private ADHD and autism assessments are available through providers in the area and through online providers who assess people remotely across the whole of Scotland; remote assessment can be a practical option if travelling to in-person appointments is difficult from where you live in Perthshire or Kinross. Private assessment typically costs between £800 and £2,000 for adults.

Before you book, check three things:

HIS registration: Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) is Scotland's regulator for private healthcare. An HIS-registered provider has been inspected and meets required standards. Not all providers are legally required to register: services that do not employ, engage, or grant practising privileges to a medical doctor, nurse, or other listed professional are exempt, as are England-based online providers regulated by the CQC. Our regulation page explains what this means.

Shared care support: If you receive a private ADHD diagnosis and are prescribed medication, you will initially pay for private prescriptions. Many people then ask their NHS GP to take over prescribing through a shared care agreement, which is cheaper long-term. Not all GPs agree to this, and not all private providers support the process. See our shared care guide for more detail.

Assessment method: A thorough assessment uses validated rating scales (such as Conners, DIVA-5, or ADOS-2 for autism) and gathers information from someone who knows you, not just self-report. Our compare tool shows which providers use validated tools.

Find private providers near Perth →

After a diagnosis

ADHD medication: a private diagnosis and prescription are valid in Scotland. You can ask your NHS GP to take over prescribing through a shared care agreement, though individual GPs retain the right to decline. Our shared care guide explains the process and what to do if your GP refuses.

Autism support: for autistic adults and children in Perth and Kinross, support is available through Perth and Kinross Council's health and social care services and national organisations including Scottish Autism. Our after diagnosis page has more guidance.

Peer support: the Scottish ADHD Coalition maintains a map of local ADHD groups covering Perth alongside Dundee and Angus, and no diagnosis is needed to attend. National organisations including ADHD UK and Scottish Autism can also point you to groups in Perthshire. Our support page links to the main national organisations.

Useful links

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