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Autism Diagnostic Service Suffolk

  • Our Autism Diagnostic Service provides assessments to identify if a person has autism or not. We have a youth team who provide assessments for young people between the ages of 11 and 18. We have an adult team who provide assessments for those aged 18 and over. If we diagnose somebody with autism, we offer advice and short term limited support to help them, and their family, to understand their diagnosis. Our team will explore ways that might help manage difficulties or challenges faced at home, work or in education.

  • Service Manager Lead: Community Team Manager
  • Service Contact: 01449 745389
  • Address:
    Haymills House,  Station Road East, Stowmarket, IP14 1RQ
  • Service hours: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm

What this service offers

When we receive a referral form, we review the information.  If there is not enough information to show that an autism assessment is needed, we will not accept the referral. We might return the referral, ask for more information or send the referral to another service for support if we think this would be helpful.

When a referral is accepted the name of the person is placed on a waiting list for an autism assessment.  The waiting list is long, but we will see the person as soon as we can.  While the person is waiting, we provide information about what happens during an autism assessment and ask for the persons consent. When we are able to see the person, we will contact them or their parent/carer by telephone or letter and arrange where and when to meet.

We try to meet people as close to their home as possible. We have clinics in Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket and Ipswich. 

Our teams complete a full assessment, working with the person and important people in their lives, before we decide if autism is the correct diagnosis for the person.

When the assessment is finished, we will write a report and send this to the person and their GP.  The report explains our decision and whether a diagnosis of autism has been given.

Find resources, interactive materials, and more here Autism Diagnostic Service | Norfolk and Suffolk NHS (nsft.nhs.uk)

Access this service

If you would like to be referred to the Autism Service you, (or your parent/ carer) can speak to your GP or another professional.  This could be a School Nurse, Social Worker or other health professionals like a Speech and Language Therapist. A referral can be made if you, and the professional you speak to, agree it is needed. A referral form needs to be completed by a professional (your GP has referral forms; other professionals can ask the autism service for these)

If a young person is aged between 11 and 25 years old the referral form should be sent to: The Emotional Wellbeing Hub (EWH): 3rd Floor Landmark House, Ipswich, IP1 5PB

If the person is over 25 years old the referral form should be sent to: The Access and Assessment Team (AAT). (Click here for contact details - Access and Assessment Team (AAT), Mariner House, Handford Road, Ipswich, IP1 2GA.

Visiting and onsite facilities

Our main office is at Haymills House, Station Road East, Stowmarket, IP14 1RQ.

We also have clinics in Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich.

All our clinics are accessible and have limited parking available. Reserved parking is available for those with disabilities.

How this service support carers including friends and family

With consent, we ask family and/or important people in the person’s life for information to help in the assessment process.  

We can provide information about where to access carer assessments for people aged 18 and above.

We support families and carers to understand a diagnosis of autism and what this might mean. We can provide information about local and national organisations that that can offer short, and longer-term support.  

We work with Suffolk Family Carers to offer support sessions and training for families and carers of people diagnosed with autism.

Urgent help

If you are a service user and are in crisis and need support urgently you can contact your service on the number which will have been provided.  

Call 111 and select the mental health option to speak to our 24 hour mental health crisis lineIf you are with someone who has attempted suicide, call 999 and stay with them until the ambulance arrives. 

For non-life threatening medical situations, call NHS111 on 111.  

For more information, see Help in a Crisis.

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