The existing strategy for people with autism needs to be updated to include ‘meaningful and measurable outcomes’, a three-month referral to first assessment waiting time target and a national audit of the benefits of faster diagnosis, according to the Scottish Conservatives.

The move follows warnings from a leading charity, the National Autistic Society, that some autistic people are waiting “many months, even years” for diagnosis after being referred.

Ruth Davidson’s party says a new target is needed to ensure people referred for an assessment are seen as quickly as possible and do not have to undergo long waits that can be ‘traumatic for patients and their families’.

The proposals are contained in a new plan published by the party last week.

Better data-collection and monitoring of autism at a national level is a key theme and it states a new national three-month referral to assessment waiting time target would ensure people across the country receive the same level of care.

Annie Wells, the party’s public health and equalities spokesperson, wants the Scottish Government to “record, publish and monitor” diagnosis statistics in each local authority area.

Testimonies collected by the National Autistic Society detail how some patients have faced long waits from referral to assessment.

The initial assessment is commonly followed by further waits as diagnosis in young people requires information from a variety of sources.

GPs, school staff and parents usually provide information, alongside a series of assessments carried out by healthcare professionals specialising in different areas such as speech and language, and occupational therapy, so that doctors can rule out any other conditions and confirm an autism diagnosis.

Existing guidelines in England and Wales recommend a three-month referral to first assessment wait, and the UK Government has recently started recording autism waiting times.

Commenting on the plan, Nick Ward, director of the National Autistic Society Scotland, said:

“We hope all the political parties will support the Scottish Conservatives’ call for a waiting time standard from referral to assessment of autism to be introduced.

“We believe this is an important step towards ensuring autistic people right across Scotland can access the support they need.”