The NHS Forth Valley trust has announced the shut down of the adult autism diagnosis pathway, directing patients waiting for assessment to support organisations such as The Samaritans.
In the letter, Interim Chief Officer of Clackmannan & Stirling HSCP, Joanna MacDonald said: “Due to an exceptionally high number of referrals, the service had been planning to carry out an engagement process to explore how best to use the limited resources available in a more effective way.
“However, due to recent staffing issues, the service is no longer able to continue in its present form and is therefore unable to accept any new referrals or see any existing patients who are waiting for an assessment.
“We apologise for any concern this may cause and have included details of alternative resources and support services with this letter.”
Speaking to The Courier, Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Roz McCall of the conservative party described the closure as a “devastating loss”.
She said: “I am afraid that this is yet another symptom of a mis-managed NHS which is under-resourced and increasingly struggling, and the lack of support from the Scottish Government for these local services through the health and social care partnerships is clear for all to see.”
It is unclear how many adults will be affected by this closure. NHS Forth Valley failed to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request submitted requesting data on autism diagnosis waiting times submitted in July 2023. A new request for information was submitted on February 21, 2025, which has not been responded to yet, however this is still currently within the statutory 20-day timeframe.
First year student at Stirling University Sarah de Beer was diagnosed with autism as an adult. She said “I got diagnosed with Autism at 18 years old through private means. I had very little knowledge about the support NHS provided for Autism diagnoses, however, I know that I would probably still be on the waiting list for my area based on what I know. The method I used to get a diagnosis isn’t an option for many people if NHS stops its services in this area as it cost my family £1,000 to get it, which I wouldn’t have afforded without support from my parents.”
The NHS Forth Valley area is also without a pathway for adult ADHD diagnosis and local GPs have told patients potentially seeking a private diagnosis that they would not be able to honour shared care agreements for ADHD medication. Pulse has reported that this is part of a collective action GPs are being encouraged to participate in.
Adam Johnston, a second year international politics student, called the closure “disgraceful”. He continued: “It is an essential service to so many, and closing it down means more people will go without support. Health care shouldn’t be pay to win, with people being forced into going into private diagnosis, which so many cannot afford. Additionally, with long wait lists of over four years, it leaves too many behind.”
What support is available to Stirling students?
A spokesperson for the University of Stirling said: “Any student requiring support for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can make an appointment, without a formal diagnosis, to discuss their needs by contacting the Student Services Hub.”
This sentiment was echoed by Stirling’s Student Union, who said: “We will continue to work closely with colleagues in the University, particularly the Student Support Service, to ensure that students have access to the support they need.”
The Disabled Student’s Association of Stirling (DSAS) said “The path to autism diagnosis is already approximately 258 weeks (almost five years) for patients on the primary care list (this means patients who want a diagnosis but live reasonably well with their symptoms) and approximately 85 weeks for Complex Waiting List patients (those with significantly severe symptoms that impact quality of life) in NHS Scotland according to a FOI request to NHS Tayside. This will severely limit students’ access to support through Accessibility and Inclusion as diagnosis is required for certain accommodations to be made. This will only further extend the waiting times for diagnosis.”
According to the Stirling University website page which details support for students, students seeking support “need to provide written evidence of your disability, health condition or learning needs. This may be provided in the form of an educational psychologist’s report or a letter from your GP or consultant.” It is therefore unclear what kind of support is available to students without a formal diagnosis.
There is currently a petition to reverse the closure on Change.org, which has received over 3000 signatures.
Featured image credit: Neil Williamson via Flickr Attribution share-alike
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