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 criteria. Choose your board on the map or from the list.
Hover or tap a board on the map.
Shetland is shown in a box, moved from its true position. Boundaries: council areas grouped by health board (ONS, December 2024).
Ayr · Kilmarnock · Irvine · Arran
Full FOI figures provided. Adult ADHD median wait 146 weeks (October 2026 FOI). North and East Ayrshire’s health and social care partnerships say they are currently unable to process children’s neurodevelopmental assessment referrals.
Galashiels · Hawick · Peebles · Kelso
The adult mental health service offers ADHD and autism assessment “for adults with moderate to severe mental illness only”. Records are held on paper, and all waiting-time figures were refused on cost grounds (Section 12) in both of our requests.
Dumfries · Stranraer · Castle Douglas
Board confirmed no adult ADHD or autism assessment service (July 2026 FOI response). Children: 2,412 on the Neurodevelopmental Assessment Service list, all referral reasons, with no waiting times given (October 2026 FOI).
Dunfermline · Kirkcaldy · Glenrothes · St Andrews
Second-round FOI reply due 19 October 2026, not received by 20 October 2026.
Stirling · Falkirk · Clackmannanshire
No condition-specific adult ADHD or autism pathway; adults via CMHT where criteria are met. Children’s neurodevelopmental service (PNDS): 4,764 waiting, average wait 96.1 weeks (September 2026 FOI). Median wait for a first CAMHS appointment: 5 weeks.
Aberdeen City · Aberdeenshire · Moray
Aberdeen City adult ADHD median wait 198 weeks (October 2026 FOI). The Aberdeenshire adult assessment pathway closed in 2025, and Moray has an adult ADHD waiting list but “currently no service” (board’s words).
Glasgow City · Renfrewshire · East and West Dunbartonshire · Inverclyde · East Renfrewshire
Adult ADHD: 9,160 waiting, median wait 120 weeks across the six areas (October 2026 FOI).
Inverness · Fort William · Oban · Wick
Adult ADHD referrals accepted only at “Level 4: Severe” of the NAIT stepped care pathway, which the board’s guideline uses. Median wait to a first appointment: adult ADHD 32 weeks, adult autism 136 weeks (October 2026 FOI). Children’s figures are for the general CAMHS list, all conditions.
Hamilton · East Kilbride · Motherwell · Airdrie · Cumbernauld
Waiting at the end of September 2026: 11,486 children and young people (neurodevelopmental, not split by condition), 3,869 adults for ADHD and 333 adults for autism (October 2026 FOI). No medians given.
Edinburgh · East Lothian · Midlothian · West Lothian
Combined ADHD and autism figures only: adults median 175 weeks, with 25,815 people on its adult and under-18 lists combined (our addition of its October 2026 FOI figures; July 2026: 25,044).
Kirkwall · Stromness
Smallest board by population (our ranking of PHS mid-2025 estimates). A 2023 NAIT report said the island boards have agreements with NHS Grampian for access to mainland services, including neurodevelopmental assessment. First FOI answered 11 August 2026; second-round reply due 19 October 2026, not received by 20 October 2026.
Lerwick · Scalloway · Brae
CAMHS assesses children for ADHD and autism as part of the pathway to diagnosis; an FOI response published in August 2024 refers to an Adult Autism Pathway Service. Waiting lists are not coded by ADHD or autism, so no specific figures are held (Section 17, both requests).
Dundee · Perth and Kinross · Angus
CAMHS does not provide standalone children’s ADHD or autism assessment without a significantly impairing mental health difficulty (board’s CAMHS page, checked 20 October 2026). Second-round FOI reply due 19 October 2026, not received by 20 October 2026.
Stornoway · Balivanich · Castlebay
Published children’s neurodevelopmental service leaflet. The board’s neurodevelopmental pathway, which also assesses adult autism, started in August 2024; adult ADHD is assessed by the community psychiatric nurse team. Adult ADHD: 234 waiting (31 August 2026).
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 October 2026.