Hi all,
I know there's a lot of debate about waiting times and how long it takes to get a referral on the NHS, so I thought it might help if I shared with you my autism diary - one of the benefits of being autistic! 
For reference, I'm a man in my 50s who's just been diagnosed and I live in the South West of England. The process began on 19 June and was told I was autistic last Friday (10th Oct).
I hope it helps!
19 June 2025 – I messaged doctor’s about getting an autism assessment through the surgery’s online form.
19 June – Receive an email from doctor’s, asking me to complete the attached AQ 50 questionnaire.
19 June - I email back the doctor’s with the completed questionnaire.
20 June - Email received from doctor’s:
Thank you for completing the questionnaire. Can you please now click on the NHS Right to Choose website below. This will give you the NHS providers that you can be referred to for an autism assessment and their waiting times. Please note these are all on-line assessments. Once you have decided please let me know: https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/
20 June - I email the doctor’s: “As they’re all online assessments, KT Healthcare seems to have the lowest waiting time so I’d like to go for them please.” (Rob’s note: I believe it was either 8 or 12 weeks. I think some were up to 6 months. As it was online, their location wasn't an issue.)
3 July - I email the doctor’s as I hadn’t heard: I’ve been having problems with my emails and just wanted to check that you got my email ok…
3 July – Email from doctor’s: I did send you a text on the 24th June to confirm I had sent your referral. They will be in contact with you in due course. (Rob’s note: Oops!)
17 July – Received this email from KT Healthcare (Adult Autism Assessment – Questionnaire):
We have now received a GP referral letter requesting an Autism Assessment for you.
Please find attached a booklet explaining our Autism Assessment process.
I have also attached two questionnaires for you to complete. If you require these forms in a different format, or you don’t have a laptop, just let us know.
I wonder if you have an ‘informant’? This is usually a parent/guardian who has known you aged 4-5. If not perhaps a partner or good friend to be part of the assessment? Please can you ask them to complete the attached "relative questionnaire".
Once your questionnaires have been returned, they will be reviewed by a clinician and if clinically appropriate the referral will be accepted and you will added to our wait list for an autism assessment..
The questionnaires were ‘KTHC Relative Questionnaire Background.docx’ and ‘KTHC Healthcare Adult Questionnaire.docx’. Also attached were a ‘HADS.docx’ [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale] and a 4-page pdf: ‘KT Healthcare Adult Autism Service booklet – Right to Choose.pdf’
28 July – I emailed KT Healthcare:
I’ll be sending back my questionnaire this week. However, my wife isn’t really able to answer the relative questionnaire as it’s mostly about how I was as a child. Sadly, both my parents have died and so, of course, are unable to fill it in on my behalf. What’s the best way to go forwards on this as I don’t want to hold things up?
28 July – Email back from KT Healthcare:
If you can fill in as much as you can yourself unless you have a sibling maybe who could fill in some questions? If you have any school reports or photos of yourself ages 4-5 that can help too.
29 July - I email KT Healthcare:
Please find attached the two reports. I’ll see if I can find some old photos of myself in the meantime. (Rob’s note: I wasn’t able to find my school reports).
30 July – Email back from KT Healthcare:
Thank you for this. I have uploaded these into your file for the clinician to review.
18 Sept – Assessment appointment details come through:
Please find below the details for your Autism Assessment with KT Healthcare.
The assessment consists of two parts: the ADI-R Informant Interview with a clinician, you and your informant, and the ADOS-Informed Appointment with a clinician and you. Both sessions will take place online via Microsoft teams. As previously arranged, your informant is expected to join you for the ADI-R appointment.
ADI-R Informant Interview
Date/Time: Tuesday 23rd September at 9.30am
Duration: 2 - 3 hours
Clinician: Speech and Language Therapist, xxxxxxxxxxxxx (Rob’s note: name removed)
Participants: You and your informant (via Microsoft Teams). The clinician may like to speak to your informant alone after 30-60 minutes.
ADOS-Informed Appointment
Date/Time: Thursday 25th September at 12noon
Duration: 1 - 1.5 hours
Clinician: Clinical Psychologist, xxxxxxxxxxxxx (Rob’s note: name removed)
Participants: You (via Microsoft Teams)
For your appointments, please ensure you use a tablet or laptop to join the call. We will not be able to proceed if a mobile phone is used.
Please note: if an appointment is not attended or has to be terminated for any reason, we are only able to offer one alternative appointment before having to discharge back to the referring GP.
What to Expect After the Assessment
After the two appointments the clinicians will meet for a multi-disciplinary meeting. As soon as a decision is made as to whether the criteria for Autism has been met, they will contact you with the outcome and feedback. We aim to call you with the outcome within 3-4 weeks of your second appointment. You will then receive a detailed report including recommendations with a formulation of your presentation approximately 4-5 weeks after the call with the lead clinician.
23 Sept – I had the ADI-R Informant Interview, along with my wife.
(Rob’s note: This was the first time that ADHD had ever been suggested to me, which was something I'd not considered before.)
24 Sept – I followed this interview up with about a dozen short notes that I’d made and didn’t think had been covered in the interviews. (Rob’s note: not sure if they were needed and/or taken into account.)
25 Sept – I had the ADOS-Informed Appointment on my own.
10 Oct – A phone call from the Speech and Language Therapist to confirm that I "do meet the criteria for autism". I asked what made them reach that decision - though I'd already presumed I was a few months back - and she kindly went through some of their observations (I was quiet, don't use my hands much, little eye contact, to name a few). She also suggested I get assessed for ADHD.
November - Approx. 4-5 after the phone call, I'll receive my autism report via email, which will act as evidence and I should print it out asap. I'll have 7 days to check through it, and once I'm OK with it it'll be shared with my GP.
PS I've just messaged my doctor’s about getting an ADHD assessment - again using the surgery’s online form.
