When I was elected on 15 August 2024, I was immensely grateful to the people of Dunblane and Bridge of Allan, from all political persuasions, who considered putting their faith in Labour and in me. I have strived to do as much as I can to honour the pledges I made on the doorstep.
Many parents described long waiting times for Autism and ADHD assessments. If a person
has more than one condition, they often have to return to the beginning of the queue for the
next diagnosis. There are, of course, more neurodiverse conditions than Autism and ADHD, which further add to waiting times.
While I was Chair of the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Integrated Joint Board, and also the council representative on the NHS Forth Valley Board, I continued to question what support Mental Health Officers were providing for neurodiverse young people, given that ADHD and Autism assessments were no longer delivered through CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services). As a result, no waiting times were being collated or measured and, unsurprisingly, reported CAMHS waiting times moved significantly closer to Scottish Government targets.
I was very grateful when NHS mental health practitioners produced the Forth Valley Mental Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-2035. The plan highlighted an important distinction: Autism and ADHD assessments are now delivered through a separate neurodevelopmental pathway and, unlike CAMHS and psychological therapies, are not currently subject to national waiting time targets. The plan also warned that people left undiagnosed are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and substance misuse issues later in life.
The NHS Forth Valley pathway for adult ADHD assessments now appears to operate largely
through a private route. Unfortunately, it is well documented that a private ADHD diagnosis
does not necessarily provide a pathway to NHS prescribing arrangements, leaving many
patients facing significant ongoing costs. Some adults I have spoken to report paying
between £200 and £300 per month for their medication.
On 25 June 2026, I presented a motion to Stirling Council asking it to agree that every child should have timely access to an assessment, transparent waiting times, recognition of the challenges caused by long waits, and that the Leader of the Council write to the Scottish Government requesting the introduction of transparent national waiting time measures for children and young people. Click here to read the full motion.
The Council agreed to write to the Scottish Government requesting transparent waiting
times. While this was welcome news, I believe that, as politicians, we need to do more. It is not the mark of a caring society to leave people with a disability unassessed and struggling to the point of substance misuse or even suicide. We all need to do better. We cannot honestly
brush long and embarrassing waiting times for assessments under the carpet by abandoning
so many people when we know the likely long-term consequences of doing so. This is not just a Forth Valley issue; it is a national one.
Transparency is the first step towards improvement. I will continue to press for the
publication of meaningful waiting time data and fair access to assessments for children and adults alike. I encourage residents, community groups, health professionals and fellow
elected representatives to join that call. Complexity is not a reason to make people invisible. Every person waiting for an assessment deserves to be counted, recognised and supported.
David Wilson
Scottish Labour Councillor, Ward 3, Bridge of Allan and Dunblane
