How does diagnosis work in the UK?

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I'm actually from Germany, but I'll study in Southampton starting this September. I finally want to get diagnosed, but it's too late to get an appointment here due to long waiting lists. So, maybe somebody who has been diagnosed in the UK could tell me what I'd have to do? Fortunately there's kind of an Autism centre right there in Southampton, and I already contacted them, but they say I'd have to go to a GP first and then get referred to them, if I understood that correctly. I have no idea how health care works in the UK or whether you actually have something like that, so does someone know how much that costs? Also, maybe how long the waiting lists are? Because I'll only be there for about 9 months.

Going to your GP is the first step. Are you registered with one? However, if you're only going to be here for 9 months, I'm not sure, but I think you might be gone from here before you reach the top of the waiting list (or you'll be gone by the time the assessment process is complete, as there will be several appointments required before a diagnosis is made). The waiting time differs throughout the country, so it really depends on where you are (sorry, I don't know what it's like in Southampton). There is no cost at all, unless you choose to go private. If you choose to go private, you might not need a GP referral, but I've no idea how you'd go about choosing someone to assess you.