PLANS to consult on future support for adults with autism in Forth Valley have been delayed more than a year after the closure of the area’s adult assessment service.
The Forth Valley Adult Autism Assessment Team was suspended last March after its two part-time clinical staff left their posts, with the partnership saying the small team could no longer meet demand or deal with long waits.
At the time, Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership said it would work with local people, GPs and partner organisations “over the next few months” to identify the best future support for adults with autism.
But David Keenan, who was referred to the Adult Autism Assessment Team in 2024, has now lodged a formal complaint over the lack of progress.
He said: “It is now August 2026 and there has been no further communication nor consultation with those who were on the waiting list.”
Mr Keenan said people on the waiting list were told the service had been suspended because staff had left, the team could not meet demand and waits for assessment had become too long.
He said they were also told the resource used for the service would be redirected into community and secondary-care support.
However, an FOI response states that the resource has not been reallocated, but has instead been “earmarked” to support adults who display autistic traits.
The same response said no formal review of the impact of the closure had taken place, while engagement on an alternative model had been delayed by operational issues.
He said he was concerned that people had been left without a clear route to a full autism assessment or post-diagnostic support.
He explained: “For the hundreds of adults across Forth Valley who have suspected neurodivergence, there is a complete lack of support and the only alternative is to go private at a great expense.”
The Falkirk man said he was advised during a mental-health crisis to consider a private autism assessment and was quoted around £2,500 by a clinic.
“It did not feel right to have to pay such a substantial fee for validation and understanding myself better, particularly in light of the closure of the Adult Autism Assessment Team,” he said.
He has also questioned why the decision to close the team was considered an operational matter by senior managers rather than being considered by the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Integration Joint Board.
He said: “Closing the service and reinvesting funds in an alternative model is a strategic decision and therefore the decision should have been made by the Integration Joint Board.
“This would have allowed for public scrutiny of the decision and allowed for affected service users to make deputations either in support of, or against, the recommendation to close the service.”
The FOI response said the decision was viewed as operational because the service had two part-time staff who left their posts, alongside increasing demand and long waits. It said no legal or governance advice was sought because the decision was considered operational.
An earlier FOI review confirmed no consultation was undertaken with people on the waiting list before the service was suspended. The partnership said it apologised that this had not happened and was committed to involving people with lived experience in future consultation.
A spokesperson for Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership said everyone previously referred to the assessment service had been given details of alternative advice and support.
They added that people could access support in work or education without a formal diagnosis, while adults whose autism was more complex and had a significant impact on daily life could continue to access local mental-health services.
The spokesperson said: “Although there have been some delays to the initial timescales to undertake engagement, there are now plans to carry out a range of engagement activities over the next six months to identify the best way of supporting people with autism going forward.”
They added that the work would be informed by national discussions on neurodevelopmental guidance being developed by the Royal College of Psychiatry.
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