How can people get referred to this service?
If you are an adult over 25 speak to your GP about a referral. Other health professionals can also refer you. They need to send a referral form to our Suffolk Access and Assessment Team (AAT).
If you are aged 11-18, a youth referral request needs to go through the Emotional Wellbeing Hub (EMHub) on 0345 600 2090.
Both AAT and the EMHub will screen and triage for indicators of autism, but can also give advice on other services if they think they are needed rather than an autism assessment.
What to expect when referred
The AAT team and the EMHub will contact you and may refer you onto us. To help with this you may be asked a series of questions that help us to decide if a diagnosis of autism is likely. When we receive your referral form, it is considered carefully by our teams and we may then also refer you to another service for support, if an autism diagnosis is not indicated. We let you know the outcome of your referral either way.
If your referral is accepted for an assessment to take place, there are waiting lists but after a few months we will contact you by telephone or letter and arrange a time to meet with you and your family or carer to gather some information. We will try to meet you as close to your home as possible, from our bases in Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket and Ipswich.
We request your consent and can give you information about autism and what having a diagnosis may involve.
If you wish to proceed, our team of qualified and experienced clinicians complete a comprehensive assessment in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis. This will involve face to face appointments with you and your family. A full report is completed and sent to you and your GP explaining the outcome of your assessment. You may or may not receive a diagnosis of autism.
