Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 19 March 2026 [Draft]
19 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
General Question Time
Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessments (NHS Tayside)
The move to separate autism spectrum disorder assessments from mental health services is more than a simple clinical distinction. I understand the motivation for separate pathways that the minister has set out, but I have been working with a young boy who has been on the child and adolescent mental health services neurodevelopmental waiting list since January 2023. The details of his case are distressing, but there is no diagnosis in sight. Does the minister recognise that that wait is far too long? There are deep consequences for my constituent’s wellbeing that are overwhelming both him and his family.
In the same item of business
1. Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of NHS Tayside having stopped accepting referrals for children without coexisting mental health disorders in March 2...
The Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing (Tom Arthur)
SNP
I am aware of NHS Tayside’s decision to pause new neurodevelopmental referrals where a child does not have a coexisting mental health condition, but that doe...
Mark Ruskell
Green
I know that Tom Arthur gets it. We have had conversations in the past year and I have brought constituency cases to him, but I am distraught that, a year on,...
Tom Arthur
SNP
I appreciate and value the meeting that Mark Ruskell and I had to discuss the matter, and his on-going interest and engagement. I recognise that we are conte...
Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The move to separate autism spectrum disorder assessments from mental health services is more than a simple clinical distinction. I understand the motivation...
Tom Arthur
SNP
I concur with Mr Marra and appreciate the points that he raises. I want to be absolutely clear that such lengths of waits are completely unacceptable. I made...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Briefly, please.
Tom Arthur
SNP
There is an opportunity, particularly in the next session of the Parliament, to work constructively together to ensure that people are receiving the support ...