NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (HIOW ICB) is introducing a new All-Age Autism and ADHD Single Point of Access (SPoA) and Triage Hub. The service will be introduced in phases from 1st October 2026 and aims to make referrals for autism and ADHD diagnostic assessments and ADHD medication services more consistent, straightforward and easier to access for children, young people, adults and families.
The service forms part of wider work across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to improve access to autism and ADHD services and strengthen support available to local people. The Hub works alongside existing community support, information and advice services, helping individuals, families and carers access support both before and after assessment, with or without a formal diagnosis.
The information below provides answers to some of the questions regarding the new All-Age Autism and ADHD Single Point of Access (SPoA) and Triage Hub. The frequently asked questions will continue to be updated and developed to reflect new information, common queries and feedback from individuals, families, carers and professionals.
An easy read version of the frequently asked questions is being developed and will be published in due course.
Frequently asked questions for individuals, families and carers
The service will start in stages:
- From 1st October 2026 - New adult ADHD diagnostic assessment referrals
- From 1st November 2026 - New adult autism, children's autism and children's ADHD diagnostic assessment referrals and ADHD medication referrals for adults who already have an ADHD diagnosis.
The All-Age Autism and ADHD Single Point of Access (SPoA) and Triage Hub gives professionals one place to send specific new NHS referrals. These are autism and ADHD diagnostic assessment referrals for children, young people and adults, and NHS ADHD medication referrals for people who already have an ADHD diagnosis. Triage means checking and reviewing the information to decide which NHS-funded diagnostic assessment or ADHD medication service is best placed to help. The Hub considers the person's experiences, strengths, needs, circumstances and any risks. It then shares the outcome and next steps.
Only the following new referrals can be sent through the Hub:
• a new referral for an autism diagnostic assessment for a child, young person or adult
• a new referral for an ADHD diagnostic assessment for a child, young person or adult
• a new referral to an NHS ADHD medication service for a child, young person or adult who already has an ADHD diagnosis
It is not a route for general support requests, ongoing care or treatment, advice, or updates about an existing referral or waiting list.
A professional who knows the person must make the referral and explain why a diagnostic assessment or ADHD medication service may be appropriate.
The Hub reviews the information and decides the next step. A referral is not automatically accepted.
No. If you want to discuss whether an autism or ADHD diagnostic assessment may be appropriate for you or your child, speak to a professional who knows you or your child. They will consider the available information and decide whether to make a referral.
For a child or young person, this may be a GP, paediatrician, SENCO, education professional or another children's services professional.
For an adult, this may be a GP, mental health professional or adult care and support professional.
The professional should know you or your child well enough to describe the experiences, strengths, needs and support already in place.
The referral may include:
- current experiences, strengths and support needs
- developmental history and relevant health information
- how everyday life, education, work or relationships are affected
- support and reasonable adjustments already in place
- previous assessments or diagnoses
- any important safety or safeguarding information
If you were referred for an autism or ADHD diagnostic assessment, or were already on a waiting list, before 1st October 2026, you will stay with your current provider.
You do not need another referral and your place on the waiting list will not change because of the new Hub.
It means that a child or young person is currently receiving support from a local Neurodiversity Team. It does not simply mean that the child was referred to a team in the past.
A child who is currently supported by a Neurodiversity Team should continue with that team and does not need another referral through the Hub. Local arrangements differ. If you are unsure, ask the team or the professional supporting your child which route applies.
- Referral sent The professional sends the referral to the Hub.
- Information checked If anything is missing, the Hub asks the professional who referred you for more information.
- Referral reviewed The Hub considers the information and the person's individual circumstances.
- Outcome shared You and the professional who referred you are told the outcome and next steps, usually by letter or email.
- Next service If accepted, the referral is sent to the service best placed to help.
Ask the professional who is referring you to confirm when the referral has been sent. They remain your main contact while the Hub reviews it.
After the review, you and the professional who referred you will receive the outcome and next steps, usually by letter or email. If the Hub needs more information, it will ask the professional who made the referral. That professional may contact you for the details.
Not always. A referral may:
• be accepted and sent to an autism or ADHD diagnostic assessment service
• for someone already diagnosed with ADHD, be accepted and sent to an NHS ADHD medication service
• need more information before a decision can be made
• be directed to a different service or support option that is better placed to help with the person's current needs
A referral not being accepted for a particular assessment service does not mean that the person's experiences or support needs are unimportant.
Information will be given about the outcome and next steps. Speak to the professional who made the referral if you do not understand or agree with the decision. They can explain it, discuss other options and ask whether more information can be considered.
The Hub reviews the information about the person's circumstances, support needs and any identified risks. This helps the Hub decide whether the referral should follow a routine or urgent process.
The Hub is not an emergency service. Use the urgent help information in question 19 if someone needs immediate help.
Waiting times depend on the service and provider. The Hub does not carry out assessments and cannot give one waiting time for everyone.
Once a provider accepts the referral, it will share waiting time information where this is available.
No. The Hub does not:
• carry out autism or ADHD assessments
• give an autism or ADHD diagnosis
• provide therapy or ongoing treatment
• start, prescribe or review ADHD medication
Its role is limited to the new referrals listed in question 3. It reviews the information, explains the outcome and sends accepted referrals to a diagnostic assessment service or, for people already diagnosed with ADHD, to an NHS ADHD medication service.
If you have an ADHD diagnosis and need an NHS service to start medication, a new referral can be sent through the Hub. The referral should include the previous assessment, diagnosis and relevant health information.
If you are already receiving ADHD medication, the provider responsible for your care should continue to manage your medication and reviews. Contact that provider if you have questions.
No. The Hub does not remove, override or restrict the legal Right to Choose where it applies. If you or your child is eligible, you can still choose an eligible provider for the assessment and, where applicable, treatment. The Hub will not direct the referral away from your chosen eligible provider.
The Hub provides one referral route and coordinates what happens next. Tell your GP or other healthcare professional about your choice before the referral is sent. The choice should be recorded and supported when patient choice rules and the provider's requirements are met. Your referrer can explain whether Right to Choose applies and how the referral will be sent.
The Hub works alongside local community services that provide information, advice and guidance to children, young people, adults and families. Support is available before, during and after a diagnostic assessment, whether or not the person has a formal diagnosis.
We encourage everyone to use this support when a referral is being made. You do not need to wait for an assessment or diagnosis. Support may include parent and carer support, Neurodiversity Teams, adult information and advice, community hubs, peer support, practical strategies and help with reasonable adjustments.
Please visit this page to explore a range of advice, guidance and support services available to you before, during and after the assessment process.
The Hub is not an emergency service. For immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E. For urgent mental health help, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option. Existing safeguarding arrangements must still be followed.
No. The Hub cannot take enquiries from the public. To discuss a new autism or ADHD diagnostic assessment referral, contact a professional who knows you or your child.
If you were already waiting before 1st October 2026, contact the provider managing your referral.
Frequently asked questions for professionals
The All-Age Autism and ADHD Single Point of Access and Triage Hub provides a single, consistent referral route across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The Hub does not undertake assessment, diagnosis or treatment. Its role is to ensure individuals are directed to the most appropriate pathway, while supporting referrers with clear outcomes, signposting and consistent clinical triage.
The Single Point of Access and Triage Hub provides a single referral route for autism and ADHD services across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The service clinically reviews referrals and ensures people are directed to the most appropriate assessment, treatment or support pathway based on their needs. The aim is to improve consistency, reduce variation in referral routes and support equitable access across the system.
The service is being introduced to:
• Simplify referral pathways.
• Ensure referrals are reviewed consistently.
• Improve allocation to the most appropriate service.
• Support appropriate prioritisation of referrals.
• Improve communication with referrers.
• Help individuals and families access relevant support while waiting.
The model has been informed through stakeholder engagement, survey feedback and co-production with clinical experts
The service will be introduced in phases:
From 1 October 2026
The pilot will support:
• Adult ADHD assessment referrals
From 1 November 2026
The service will expand to include:
- Adult autism referrals
- Children's autism referrals
- Children's ADHD referrals
- ADHD medication referrals
The Single Point of Access and Triage Hub aims to:
• Deliver a consistent referral process across Hampshire and Isle of Wight.
• Ensure referrals reach the most appropriate provider.
• Improve referral quality.
• Support safe and effective clinical triage.
• Enable timely signposting to appropriate support and services.
• Promote a person-centred approach to care.
Please visit this page to explore a range of advice, guidance and support services available before, during and after the assessment process.
You do not need to have a formal diagnosis or be on a waiting list to access and you can self-refer for support at any time.
Referrals may be accepted from agreed professional sources, including:
• General Practice
• Primary Care clinicians
• Education professionals
• Commissioned services
• Neurodevelopmental Multidisciplinary Teams (ND MDTs)
• Community neurodevelopmental hubs and other approved professional referrers
No. The Single Point of Access and Triage Hub accepts referrals from agreed professional referrers only. Individuals seeking assessment should discuss their concerns with an appropriate professional who can assess whether a referral is required.
Referrals should be submitted using the approved Single Point of Access referral process and templates, ensuring all required information is included.
Providing complete and accurate information will help avoid delays and support timely clinical triage.
Referrers should provide sufficient information to support clinical decision making, including:
• Presenting concerns
• Relevant developmental history
• Functional impact
• Mental and physical health information
• Existing support arrangements
• Risk information where applicable
• Any previous assessments or diagnoses
• Information required within the Single point of Access referral guidance and template
Incomplete referrals may be returned to the referrer, or the Single Point of Access team may request additional information before clinical triage can take place. This may cause delays to progression through the pathway.
Once received, the referral will be reviewed by the Single Point of Access clinical team.
The team will:
• Review the information provided.
• Assess whether referral criteria have been met.
• Determine the most appropriate pathway.
• Prioritise according to clinical need.
• Inform the referrer of the outcome and next steps.
Not necessarily. Following clinical review, a referral may be:
• Accepted and allocated to a provider.
• Returned for further information.
• Declined where criteria are not met, with signposting to more appropriate services and support or where there is already an existing referral to another diagnostic assessment provider
The Single Point of Access clinical team will review information provided and determine whether the referral should proceed through routine or urgent prioritisation processes in line with clinical need and service criteria.
Yes. The referrer will receive confirmation of:
• The triage outcome
• Any requests for further information
• Whether the referral has been accepted
• Which pathway or provider the referral has been allocated to
• Any actions required from the referrer
The Single Point of Access is responsible for reviewing referrals and directing individuals to the most appropriate pathway, including approved Right to Choose providers where applicable.
Only Primary Care professionals can submit referrals to Right to Choose providers.
No. Education and other professional referrers may refer into the Single Point of Access for commissioned services, but referrals to Right to Choose providers must be made through Primary Care.
People who have already been referred and are waiting for assessment will remain with their existing provider and pathway. They should not be re-referred to the Single Point of Access.
No. The Single Point of Access is intended for new referrals. Existing referrals will continue under current arrangements.
New information, updates or requests for reprioritisation should be sent directly to the original provider managing the individuals referral and not to the Single Point of Access.
Any referral submitted before implementation remains the responsibility of the original provider and existing pathway.
Yes. Where appropriate, the Single Point of Access may be used for individuals who already have an ADHD diagnosis and require access to medication initiation or ongoing medication management services.
Where ADHD medication has already been initiated prior to 1st October 2026, any medication reviews required should be completed by the original provider responsible for the individuals care.
No. The Single Point of Access and Triage Hub does not prescribe medication, undertake medication reviews or provide ongoing treatment. It reviews and allocates referrals to the appropriate service.
Any medication reviews or ongoing medication management should continue with the provider already responsible for the individuals care.
A new referral should be submitted to the Single Point of Access. The referral should include:
• Details of the previous diagnosis
• Previous assessment reports
• Relevant clinical history
• Current clinical need
No. The Single Point of Access does not undertake diagnostic autism assessments. It reviews referrals and allocates them to the most appropriate assessment provider.
No. Diagnosis remains the responsibility of assessment providers and specialist clinical services.
No. The Single Point of Access is a referral and triage service only and does not provide ongoing clinical management or treatment.
The Hub can signpost individuals, families and carers to information, advice, community support and other appropriate resources while they await assessment or intervention
The service operates within relevant safeguarding frameworks and will work in accordance with multi-agency safeguarding processes when concerns are identified.
No. Urgent safeguarding concerns should continue to be managed through established safeguarding pathways and emergency procedures where appropriate. A referral to the Single Point of Access does not replace safeguarding responsibilities.
