Meeting of the Parliament 01 April 2025
Daniel Johnson gave a powerful and compelling speech, and a number of other members have given similarly compelling speeches. To be frank, it is to the shame of us all that in Scotland, a wealthy country, we cannot help our citizens at the most basic level. I may disagree with Daniel Johnson about a lot of different aspects of our politics, but I think that we share a fundamental belief that every individual in Scotland, whether they are neurotypical or neurodivergent, deserves fairness, dignity and the opportunity to thrive.
That is why I am standing here today, speaking on behalf of my constituents in Forth Valley who are being denied precisely those things. As members of the Parliament, we carry the responsibility of building a Scotland where every person is supported to reach their full potential, where barriers are dismantled and where work is not just a means to an end but a path to purpose, independence and respect.
However, the actions of this Government and NHS Forth Valley run counter to that vision. NHS Forth Valley’s decision to withdraw the adult autism diagnostic service is, to put it bluntly, a serious misstep. It has been made with poor communication, no meaningful consultation and, most alarmingly, no clear alternative for those affected. Let us be absolutely clear that those who are affected have waited years for understanding, clarity and access to support. In recent weeks, I have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and the chief executive of NHS Forth Valley to express my deep concern about the decision. I await an answer from both of those individuals.
It is not a simple service adjustment; it is a profound and damaging disruption to people’s lives. In those letters, I have asked the questions that people in my constituency are asking. What happens to those who are already on the waiting list? What pathways now exist for those who are seeking a diagnosis? What are employers meant to do when individuals who are visibly in need of support cannot obtain the formal recognition that is required to unlock that support? Those are not abstract questions; they are practical and urgent concerns, particularly for those who are seeking work and now face yet another barrier to opportunity.
A diagnosis is not the end of the journey—it is the beginning. A diagnosis is a key that unlocks access to the support and adjustments that people need to succeed in work, education and life. Without a diagnosis, people are left unsupported and without the kind of help that will make all the difference to their lives. It is, frankly, unjust.
This is not about political ideology; it is about basic fairness and ensuring that our public services empower people rather than hold them back and that they open doors rather than quietly close them. The message that this decision sends is deeply troubling. It discourages people from seeking help. It frustrates employers who want to do the right thing. It undermines trust in the very services that should be lifting people up.
I want every individual in Forth Valley and across Scotland to be able to realise their fullest potential. That means having the right services in place at the right time and listening to communities before decisions are made, not after. I urge the cabinet secretary to intervene and to engage directly with NHS Forth Valley to see that the service is reinstated and to ensure that there is national direction so that access to support does not become a postcode lottery.