Rod Stewart has garnered widespread acclaim from fans and the public after he intervened to finance the autism diagnosis of a four-year-old boy, Iain Gregori, who had been awaiting assessment through the NHS in Scotland for three years. Iain, who is non-verbal and preparing to start school this September, was brought to prominence by his father, Michael Gregori, in an interview with the Daily Record, which has been addressing the challenges families face amid a backlog of medical appointments for children diagnosed with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The issue was raised in the Scottish Parliament on 1 May, where Anas Sarwar, the leader of the Scottish Labour Party, highlighted the dire situation many families encounter. He stated, "Rod Stewart heard this heartbreaking story and stepped in to pay for Iain’s diagnosis. Others won’t be as lucky — why, on [First Minister] John Swinney’s watch, do young people have to rely on the charity of a rock star to get the treatment they need?"
Stewart, who received a knighthood in 2016 for his contributions to music and charity work, has been proactive in arranging for the appointment of a suitable private specialist for Iain, either in Scotland or the UK capital.
Responses from fans have poured in, with many expressing gratitude for Stewart’s generosity. One fan commented, "Thank you for what you did for little Iain, I just finished reading the article. I salute you, sir." Another added, "Plenty are lost in the system, well done Rod!" and "One less child on a waiting list."
Michael Gregori expressed his astonishment at Stewart’s gesture, stating, "I honestly did not expect this. I am in awe of him because he wants to help a normal family like ours. The fact he is offering to help shows how serious this problem is. It is incredible he wants to help us."
Stewart addressed the situation in a statement to the Daily Record, indicating that the Gregori family only needs to secure a referral letter to proceed with the specialist. He remarked, "Of course, all the costs will be down to me," adding, "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."
In reaction to Stewart's intervention, the National Autistic Society in Scotland issued a statement underscoring the systemic issues. They asserted that "nobody should have to rely on Rod Stewart’s help to receive an autism diagnosis," emphasising the unacceptably long wait times many children face for assessments. They remarked, "Receiving a diagnosis can be life-changing, and in some cases life-saving, for some autistic young people as it can be very difficult for families to access support without one." The Society urged for strengthened efforts to increase the availability of autism assessments in Scotland.
Amidst the growing concerns regarding treatment delays, First Minister John Swinney has been challenged to address the statistics released this week, which revealed that a child in the NHS Lothian area has waited six years for treatment. Swinney stated, "We are working to reduce waiting times for access to treatment for individuals across the health service in Scotland and we are making progress in a number of areas in relation to that objective." He highlighted that the Scottish Government has increased investments in mental health support to expand capacity in response to the evolving needs of young people within the region.
Source: Noah Wire Services