Our Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Diagnostic Service is a local diagnostic and assessment service for adults who are believed to need an assessment for autism. People are assessed by a specialist psychiatrist and a specialist occupational therapist.
The service has been purchased by the 5 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) covering Cheshire and Wirral. The service is open to referrals nationwide and can also accept referrals for assessment, review or expert opinion such as self-funded cases or cases funded by any CCG, other health providers or other organisations, for example, occupational health or insurance, by individual agreement. The service can also provide specialist intervention work either privately or on a bespoke basis funded by CCGs or other organisations. The service leads, Ian and Clair, are both NICE champions for autism, and Ian is the autism champion for England. Visit our team page learn more about the service providers.
This service is available to anyone age 16 and over who has a GP in Cheshire West, Vale Royal or South Cheshire and those age 18 and over who has a GP in Cheshire East, Wirral or Shropshire. It is for those who have not received a previous diagnosis of ASD, and those who do not have a diagnosed learning disability.
If you have experienced traits of ASD throughout your life, speak to your GP about a referral. They will complete a quick questionnaire (which is called an AQ10). They may complete it with you or ask you to complete it yourself or with someone who knows you well and return it to the surgery.
If you trigger an assessment by answering the questionnaire, your GP will refer either directly to the ASD service, or through a community mental health service, who will then assess your referral individually.
Your GP will refer you if you meet the above criteria and are willing to go for the assessment.
To learn more, you can view the AQ10 questionnaire, read our leaflet on what to expect during your assessment, or watch the video displayed below that explains what the initial assessment process involves.
If you would like more information on what happens post-diagnosis, please read the Post Diagnosis leaflet.
The Autism Hub is for people who are, or who may be autistic. It is also a useful space for family members, staff, and professionals who support autistic people. There are several services available via the Autism Hub and there are different services depending on your age, and if you have a learning disability.
