ADHD and autism assessment pathway
NHS Lothian has a population of 935,460 (mid-2025 estimate). This page explains how referrals work and what to expect at each stage.
You do not need a formal diagnosis to access information and support from NHS Lothian's neurodiversity services. The board's page adds that "Some of the services below have wait lists and may not be available for immediate access."
Reviewed by ADHD Scot,
Waiting times: what our FOI found
These figures are from NHS Lothian's reply to our second FOI request, dated 20 October 2026 (ref 11950), which gives the “current waiting list” without a snapshot date. July 2026 figures (ref 11646, lists at 22 July 2026) are in brackets. The board says “ADHD and autism referrals cannot currently be reported separately”, so every figure covers both together.
How long people wait
Median wait, October 2026 reply · scale 0 to 5 yearsGetting assessed as an adult
Adults seeking an ADHD or autism assessment through the NHS in Lothian are referred through their GP into adult mental health or psychiatry services.
Describe your symptoms clearly, give specific examples from daily life, not just general descriptions. Mention that symptoms have been present since childhood. You can bring a completed ADHD screener or autism screener to support the conversation.
NHS Lothian's GP referral guidelines specifically mention the WFIRS-S (Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale, Self Report) as a tool to assess how symptoms are affecting daily life across work, education, social, and family settings. The guideline says it "may be used to assess impact on functioning in more depth", so you could complete one and take it to your appointment.
Your GP refers you to adult psychiatry or mental health services. NHS Lothian has published referral guidelines for adult ADHD via their RefHelp system, which GPs use to determine the appropriate referral.
Once your referral is accepted, you are placed on a waiting list. The board’s October 2026 FOI response gives a median wait of 175 weeks, around 3 years 4 months, with 13,253 adults waiting, of whom 7,315 have waited more than two years. The board cannot separate ADHD from autism, so these are combined neurodevelopmental figures. See waiting times by board.
When your turn comes, you will be offered an assessment appointment.
You receive the outcome of the assessment.
What NHS Lothian's own referral guidance says
NHS Lothian publishes clinician-facing referral guidance on its RefHelp site. It is written for professionals, not patients, but it documents the criteria referrals are actually judged against. All the pages below were undated at the time of our review (September 2026). Tap a card for the full wording and links.
Adult ADHDFunctional impact in two or more areas.
The AD(H)D in Adults page advises clinicians to consider referral to the locality mental health team if the patient describes impact on functioning in two or more areas, via the adult mental health SCI referral protocol; patients with mild impairment should not be referred for specialist assessment in the first instance.
Adult autismAn AQ10 score of six or more.
The Autism (Adult) page says to refer adults who score six or more on the AQ10 autism symptom screener and/or have significant functional impairment, via SCI Gateway to the patient's local sector CMHT (Community Learning Disabilities Team where a learning disability is present or suspected); patients scoring 5 or below with no significant functional impact will not be offered a diagnostic pathway.
Children's ADHDOther professionals first.
The AD(H)D CAMHS page states children should have already received significant advice/intervention from other professionals before CAMHS referral; under-5s go via Community Paediatrics, and CAMHS would not normally assess for ADHD until the child has completed at least one term of primary school.
Children's autismRoutes depend on age.
The ASD (CAMHS) page states that in Edinburgh, SALT and Community Paediatrics coordinate ASD assessment for under-7s, with CCH/SALT/CAMHS coordinating for school-age children, and referrals should come after consultation with the existing professional network. The Community Paediatrics page states new referrals for social communication difficulties and possible autism are accepted for children under 7, including directly from schools and other education staff.
Getting your child assessed
NHS Lothian's Community Paediatrics guidance says referrals are considered from GPs, health visitors and other professionals, and directly from schools and other education staff. NHS Lothian publishes an ND Assessment Referral Form for children and young people. The national Children's Neurodevelopmental Pathway framework (NAIT, 2021) encourages "support needs to be addressed as they arise, regardless of diagnosis". You should not need to wait for a formal diagnosis before asking for help at school or from other services.
A GP, school, health visitor, or other professional submits a referral using NHS Lothian's neurodevelopmental referral form (ND RFA Form), available at services.nhslothian.scot/neurodiversity.
Which service sees the child depends on age and needs. NHS Lothian's guidance says under-5s are normally assessed for ADHD via Community Paediatrics, and in Edinburgh, SALT and Community Paediatrics coordinate autism assessment for under-7s (see the guidance cards above).
NHS Lothian has 12,562 under-18s waiting for neurodevelopmental assessment through CAMHS, with a median wait of 139 weeks; 6,205 have waited more than two years (the board’s October 2026 FOI response; ADHD and autism counted together as the board cannot separate them).
NHS Lothian's Community Paediatrics guidance says: "We offer a holistic assessment using multi-disciplinary teams when required, depending on the issues raised."
NHS Lothian says "You do not need a formal diagnosis to access information and support."
While you wait, support and resources
You do not need a formal diagnosis to access most of the following resources. Support is available now.
NHS Lothian neurodiversity support
NHS Lothian's neurodiversity page lists information, supports and resources, and says you do not need a formal diagnosis to access information and support.
Peer support in Lothian
The Scottish ADHD Coalition lists local peer support groups across Scotland, including in Edinburgh.
Mental health support while waiting (Midlothian)
For people in Midlothian struggling with anxiety, stress, or low mood while waiting, Health in Mind's Midlothian Access Point supports people aged 18 to 65 registered with a Midlothian GP, without a referral. It says most people are offered a first appointment within three weeks of contacting it.
Scotland-wide support organisations
Your child's school rights, no diagnosis needed
Schools in Scotland are required to support children with additional needs under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004. No diagnosis is required. Ask your child's school about an individualised educational programme (IEP) or other support plan. These can be put in place while waiting for assessment. For children with complex or multiple needs that are likely to last more than a year and need significant support from another service as well as education, such as the NHS or social work, you can ask the council to consider a Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP), the only plan with legal force: see our school support guide.
If the wait is too long
If NHS waiting times in Lothian are not manageable, private assessment is an option. Our compare tool lists private providers operating in and around Edinburgh, with filters for HIS registration, shared care support, and cost.
If you receive a private diagnosis, you can ask your NHS GP to take over prescribing through a shared care agreement. See our shared care guide.
Sources (8)
- NHS Lothian Neurodiversity, Supports and Resources
- NHS Lothian RefHelp, AD(H)D in Adults referral guidelines
- Right Decisions, NHS Lothian ADHD prescribing guidelines (children, young people, and adults)
- NAIT, Children's Neurodevelopmental Pathway Practice Framework (Scottish Government funded), May 2021
- Scottish Government, National Neurodevelopmental Specification: principles and standards of care for children and young people, 2021
- Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, ADHD and autism pathways and support, January 2026
- Scottish Parliament Research Briefing SB 25-25, Neurodevelopmental Pathways and Waiting Times in Scotland, June 2025
- FOI response 11950, NHS Lothian, 20 October 2026, provided in response to a request from ADHD Scot
- FOI response 11646, NHS Lothian, 30 July 2026, provided in response to a request from ADHD Scot