NHS funded RTC autism assessment in Devon

Refer a patient for an adult or child autism assessment

Download Referral Form

Who can be referred to us?

We accept referrals for patients who:

Are registered with a GP practice in England
Are adults, or children aged 2 to 17 (patients are seen as adults from their 18th birthday)
Show evidence of autism traits that affect daily functioning
Do not already have an autism diagnosis
Can attend an in-person appointment at our clinic in Exeter or Plymouth

We cannot accept referrals for patients who:

Have a mental health disorder requiring urgent intervention
Have ongoing substance misuse

Patients outside Devon:

We can accept a referral only once the patient’s own ICB has agreed funding. Please contact us before referring and we can advise.

How to refer a patient to us

You can refer a patient to us for an NHS-funded autism assessment under Right to Choose in three simple steps.

Step 1: Confirm the patient’s choice

Discuss the patient’s concerns, agree that an autism assessment is appropriate, and confirm they wish to be referred to The Autism Service under Right to Choose.

Step 2: Complete our referral form

Download the referral form (PDF) and complete it. It takes a few minutes and covers patient details, reason for referral, impact on daily functioning and a short risk screen. The patient does not need to complete anything.

Step 3: Send it to us

Send the completed form, along with any supporting documents relevant to the diagnosis, by one of these routes:

NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS): search for Shropshire Autism Service on e-RS.
Email: from your practice email address to [email protected]
Post: The Autism Service, 1 Charlesworth Court, Battlefield, Shrewsbury, SY1 3AB

Download Referral Form

What happens next?

Once you’ve submitted a referral, here’s what happens next. We’ll keep you informed at each stage, from screening through to sharing the outcome. If we decline a referral we tell you why, so you can discuss other options with your patient.

1. We screen the referral

We check the referral against the criteria above. If we need more information, we’ll contact the patient directly.

2. We confirm the outcome

We write to you and the patient to confirm whether the referral has been accepted, usually within 48 hours of receiving it.

3. We book the assessment

Our current waiting time in Devon is 14 weeks from when we receive the referral.

4. We send the outcome

We send you a copy of the report via Egress at the same time as it goes to the patient.

If your patient asks us first

Patients often contact us before seeing you. We email them the referral form to bring to their appointment or provide a link to the online form. They are not asked to complete it.

Still of The Autism Service YouTube video

Play Video

How our autism assessment works

Every assessment we carry out follows NICE guidelines, so you can trust the outcome. In this short video, we explain how it works.

    
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Ian Harris 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. All the staff and clinicians were very friendly and put you at your ease. The whole process was so reassuring and you were made to feel comfortable at all times.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jugana Nowak 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would highly recommend The Autism Service. Everyone we had contact with was incredibly kind, understanding, empathetic and very helpful. They responded to emails almost immediately, which made the whole process much less stressful for us.

My daughter usually does not like talking on the phone or online, but she felt comfortable and opened up during the appointments. She was happy to answer questions, which shows that the staff truly know how to approach and support their patients.

Even after the assessment was completed, they continued to be helpful and supportive. We are very grateful for their professionalism and care. I highly recommend this service.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Nicola Loasby 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Such a positive experience from start to finish.  We had been waiting three years for an NHS Assessment and decided to go private for our daughter.  From the start, there was a detailed plan in place.  I knew what was going on at every stage and the whole process was quick and well informed.  We have finally been listened to and have a report that helps us to provide the help and guidance our daughter deserves.  Thank you!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   graham hussey 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very good service and very supportive
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jasmine Glanville 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. For a long time we struggled with our son and just knew there was something different about him. After being told NHS waiting times were over 24 months, we felt we had no choice but to go private for the sake of our 9-year-old. At that point, he would have been starting secondary school before we even received a diagnosis, and he was already struggling.

As parents, we felt it was our duty to get answers sooner rather than later.

Choosing The Autism Service was honestly the best decision we could have made. From start to finish the whole process was smooth, professional, and well communicated. We felt listened to, supported, and reassured every step of the way.

I would highly recommend this service to any parent in a similar position.

Contact our NHS team

Email [email protected] or call 0300 303 0667. We are open Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 6pm, Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm, and Saturday 9am to 4pm.

Contact our NHS team

FAQs

No. If your GP refers you under Right to Choose, the NHS pays for your assessment.

Children and adults who are registered with a GP practice in England, whose GP agrees an autism assessment is appropriate, and who do not already have an autism diagnosis.

No. The referral must come from your GP. You can contact us first and we will send you the form to take to your appointment. Alternatively we offer private assessments within 4 weeks for both adults and children.

Possibly. Your local Integrated Care Board (ICB) would need to agree to fund the assessment, and you would need to travel to Devon for at least one appointment. Contact us and we will tell you whether it is likely to be possible.

Yes, for one appointment. The observational assessment (ADOS-2) takes place in person at our clinic in Exeter or Plymouth. Your other appointments are by video call.

We can usually offer a first appointment within 14 weeks of your GP’s referral being received. Most assessments are complete four to six weeks after they start.

There are two main parts. The first is a detailed developmental history, taken in an interview of up to three hours with someone who knows you well, or with parents for a child. We use the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). The second is the ADOS-2, an observation carried out one-to-one with a clinician.

No. The clinical team reviews everything first, then shares the outcome with you at a feedback appointment. There are three possible outcomes: a diagnosis, no diagnosis, or inconclusive. Fewer than 1% of assessments are inconclusive, and if that happens a clinician will advise you on what is needed to reach a clear outcome.

Yes. Our reports are accepted by the NHS, schools, employers and local authorities.

We write to you and your GP to explain why, so you can discuss other options.

Not with us in Devon; this contract covers autism only. Our sister company, The ADHD Service, offers NHS-funded ADHD assessments in some areas.

Yes. You can ask your GP to refer you to us under Right to Choose even if you’re already on an NHS waiting list for an autism assessment. If you do, you’ll need to let the provider whose waiting list you’re on know, so they can take you off it.