Our service
Autism Service Norfolk is an NHS-employed service funded by Norfolk County Council. It provides a gateway for the diagnosis of adults 18+ with suspected autism without a learning disability. It is also able to provide some pre and post-diagnostic support around the diagnosis. Autism Service Norfolk does not provide any mental health or social care support or management.
Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are characterised by:
- impairments in the quality of a person’s social interaction
- the quality of their social communication
- evidence of repetitive routines and rituals and all-absorbing narrow interests
- motor clumsiness and sensory issues
Difficulties in these areas have to be present throughout their life-span.
Who we care for
Adults 18+ with suspected autism without a learning disability.
Referrals
Individuals may refer themselves or be referred by a health or social services professional. To accept a referral, we ask that your GP must be informed of the referral. You can download a referral form here:
Autism Service Norfolk - referral form (Word)
Autism Service Norfolk - referral form (PDF)
For more information about our service and our referral pathway, please download this information leaflet:
We occasionally offer priority assessments to:
- People whose mental health needs present a significant risk to themselves or others and where receiving a diagnosis is likely to reduce this risk
- People whose support services are at critical risk of breakdown and where receiving an Autism diagnosis may reduce this risk.
- People whose employment, education or living situation is at critical risk of breakdown and where receiving an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis may reduce this risk.
To request a priority assessment please contact ask your GP to complete our priority assessment form:
Autism Service Norfolk - priority request form
Autism Service Norfolk - priority request form
Post Diagnostic Resources
This pack contains information that could be useful to you following an ASD diagnosis, along with the names of other organisations that can offer information, support, and services.
Post-diagnostic pack - Word Doc
Becoming Involved in Research
NCH&C are currently supporting the STRATA study, which aims to find out whether the medication sertraline is an effective treatment for anxiety in adults with a diagnosis of autism.
More information: https://strata.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/
Sign up: http://www.tinyURL.com/STRATAEoI
Contact
Norwich Community Hospital, Bowthorpe Road, Norwich NR2 3TU
T: 01603 272257
Recovery College
The recovery college is run by the Norfolk and Suffolk Mental Health Trust. They run a course to help equip people with the skills and strategies to live well with autism and to live a meaningful life. It is open to anyone with or without a diagnosis of autism.
More information: https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/our-courses/
Contact Details: RecoveryOnline@nsft.nhs.uk, 01603 421169
Useful links
National Autistic Society
Norfolk Autism Partnership
The Norfolk All Age Autism Strategy, which sets out to out to increase awareness and understanding of autism by all organisations, staff and volunteers who work with, and provide services to, anyone with autism, including within the local community: Our Autism, Our Lives, Our Norfolk
Guidelines by The National Institute for Healthcare Excellence (NICE) on diagnosing and managing suspected or confirmed autism spectrum disorder (autism, Asperger’s syndrome and atypical autism) in people aged 18 and over:
Accessing a diagnosis for children and young people under 18
Access to diagnosis or support for people with learning disabilities
Recovery College
The recovery college is run by the Norfolk and Suffolk Mental Health Trust. They run a course to help equip people with the skills and strategies to live well with autism and to live a meaningful life. It is open to anyone with or without a diagnosis of autism.
More information: https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/our-courses/
Contact Details: RecoveryOnline@nsft.nhs.uk | 01603 421169
Help with health costs
If you're referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS). Find out more about the HTCS.