The Daily Record had previously highlighted the lack of children and adolescent mental health service appointments for children with conditions like autism and ADHD.

Singing legend Sir Rod Stewart has stepped in to help a little Scots boy who is caught in a “blackhole” waiting for an autism diagnosis.

The Daily Record highlighted last week the lack of CAMHS (children and adolescent mental health service) appointments for children with conditions like autism and ADHD.

In the story we told how children had been removed from waiting lists because health chiefs no longer put young people with these condition on a waiting list for CAMHS appointments.

The decision has left kids waiting years for diagnoses with parents saying they are Scotland’s lost children.

Dad Michael Gregori, who has been waiting for more than three years to have four-year-old son Iain assessed, said: “I just feel Iain has been lost in the system.”

His son is still non verbal and is due to start school this summer.

But after reading our story generous Sir Rod, who was knighted in 2016 for services to music and charity, said he wanted to pay for Iain to have a private consultation.

He said: “I’m trying to get the lad to a private specialist which I’ll have my people find in either London or Scotland.

“All his mum and dad have to do is get a referral letter to whoever that specialist turns out to be.

“Of course, all the costs will be down to me.”

Rod, who is in the middle of a European tour, took time out from his busy schedule to get in touch.

He said: “I’ve been very successful in my career and blessed so far with good health.

“I am a knight of the realm and I believe I should continue to do charitable work because that’s one of the reasons I was knighted.

“I also have seven children who are all blessed with good health so I can’t imagine what it must be like for the boy’s parents.”

And he joked: “Even if they turn out to be Rangers supporters.”

Iain’s dad, Michael, 29, is a lifelong fan of Rod’s.

He said: “I honestly did not expect this. I am in awe of him because he wants to help a normal family like ours.

“It is really admirable of him.

“The fact he is offering to help shows how serious this problem is,”

Michael, from Kirkconnel, Dumfrieshire, continued: “I grew up on Rod’s music. My adopted mum used to play his music all the time and it stuck with me.

“It is incredible he wants to help us.”

Labour’s health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie has been swamped with cases similar to Iain’s after we highlighted his plight.

She said: “Rod Stewart is being incredibly generous and we are all grateful to him but actually his intervention exposes the fact the NHS is simply not working in the interests of these young children wh have ADHD or autism.

“We need health boards to agree to share care. Where someone does get specialist treatment privately it needs to be followed up by the NHS.

“We know that there are thousands of young people in the same position as Iain so the NHS needs to change what it does.”

A recent report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists shows referrals for ADHD assessment alone rose by 500-800 per cent across health boards between 2019 and 2021.

According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland (RCPS), neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD and autism affect roughly 10-15 per cent of the Scottish

population but are significantly underdiagnosed.

Health chiefs admit many children awaiting a diagnosis are not included in the waiting lists for CAMHS appointments.

A Public Health Scotland spokesman said: “CAMHS provide treatment and/or interventions for children and young people experiencing mental health problems. Where a child or young person is waiting for an assessment for a neurodevelopmental condition such as ASD, or ADHD, they may not meet the national referral criteria for CAMHS.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson admitted long waits for neurodevelopmental support are “unacceptable”.

They added: “It is vital that children and families receive support and access to services that meet their needs at the earliest opportunity.”