Autism (adult) - Argyll and Bute
The Adult Autism Diagnostic Service is a diagnostic-only service for people aged 18 and over.
This information is relevant to those living in the Argyll and Bute HSCP area.
August 2026: we currently do not have a practitioner available. Your referral will still be acknowledged and securely held in our system; however, there will be a temporary pause in adding new referrals to the waiting list until a new practitioner is appointed. Once a new practitioner is in post, your referral will be processed from the original submission date. We will keep you updated and will contact you using the email address you provided, or by post if that is your preferred method of communication.
On this page
Important: Contact
Adult Autism Diagnostic Service
email nhsh.asd@nhs.scot
phone 01546 704 804
Working days are Monday to Wednesday.
Comraich Centre
Blarbuie Road
Lochgilphead
PA31 8LD
Referral from a health professional
If you are struggling to explore whether you may be autistic, then asking for the support of your local GP or other health professional may be the best route for you. Your GP or health professional can then arrange for a referral.
Completing a screening questionnaire to present to your clinician will assist in helping you verbalise what your challenges are and assist in making the referral (forms are identical, use your preferred format):
Self-referral
The signs of autism can be different depending on the individual, their age and life experiences. If you feel strongly that you are autistic and can provide supporting evidence of why you believe this, you can alternatively complete a self-referral form as the best route for you. The forms below are identical, just use your preferred format:
Assessment
To help reduce waiting times, we are offering remote assessments via our video call platform Near Me. The waiting area is listed as:
Adult Autism Diagnostic Team - Argyll and Bute - Near Me
If you require an in-person assessment, or if the clinician believes it would be more appropriate, you can be offered assessment at one of our hospital sites:
- Victoria Integrated Care Centre (Helensburgh) - Jeanie Deans Centre
- Mid Argyll Community Hospital
- Ellis Lodge - 5 Argyll Road, Dunoon PA23 8ES - view on Google Maps
About our Autism Strategy
In Argyll and Bute, we created an Autism Strategy to help us coordinate support for people with autism and make the most of our resources. Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) will lead the work, along with other organisations.
We want everyone, including people with autism, their families, and the community, to feel involved and own the strategy. This strategy is based on talking to people with autism and their carers and follows the goals of the Scottish Strategy for Autism. Our vision is that:
"All people with autism are respected, valued and able to live the life they choose."
We understand the important role people with autism play in our communities. We believe everyone should be treated with dignity and respect and should get the support they need to live full lives.
Our strategy focuses on helping people with autism by recognizing their strengths and building on the support that already exists in our communities. It aims to give people with autism the right to make choices, have control, and access good opportunities. It also focuses on early help for children and young people with autism and aims to prevent problems before they happen.
We believe that supporting people with autism is a shared responsibility between different organisations and the community.
Argyll and Bute Council and the HSCP are committed to working with partners locally and nationally to make sure we get it right for people with autism and their families.
Resources
Argyll and Bute Council
Other resources
Scottish Autism including Click and Connect
What's Next? - a programme for recently diagnosed or self-identifying autistic adults living in Scotland, from the National Autistic Society
Embrace Autism - post-diagnostic and peer-led support
Autism Rights Group Highland (ARGH) Scotland - a collective advocacy, lobbying and campaigning group based in the Highlands, but serving all of Scotland
Autism - related pages
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Autism
Autism is something you’re born with or will first appear when you are very young. It's not an illness but a lifelong...
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Autism (adult) - Argyll and Bute
The Adult Autism Diagnostic Service is a diagnostic-only service for people aged 18 and over.