Singing sensation Rod Stewart has stepped in to help four-year-old Iain Gregori who is caught in a “blackhole” waiting for an autism diagnosis after a three-year wait. The Scottish government have been told they should “hang its head in shame” following the Maggie May singer's efforts who paid for the young child to receive an official diagnosis. The musician stepped in after the Daily Record revealed Iain had waited three years for a diagnosis, despite his father Michael being told repeatedly he is autistic.

The case was raised by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday. “Three years on, Iain is still non-verbal and is still waiting on a diagnosis,” Mr Sarwar said. “Michael was a member of the SNP and campaigned for them to be in Government."

Mr Sarwar continued: “He told me that they should now hang their heads in shame, as they have let Scotland down.

“When speaking of his son, he said ‘everyone is saying Iain needs this diagnosis, he is autistic, everyone is sure of it, but at the same time he needs an official diagnosis to get the resources he needs’.

“Rod Stewart heard this heartbreaking story and stepped in to pay for Iain’s diagnosis.

“Others won’t be as lucky – why, on John Swinney’s watch, do young people have to rely on the charity of a rock star to get the treatment they need?”

Responding, First Minister John Swinney stressed an official diagnosis is not required to begin accessing support.

He went on to say “parents can be reassured that there is support available to meet the needs of individual young people” and added the goverment are looking at a "range of interventions where we’re expanding mental health support or supporting the development of community interventions and we are working to make sure that young people get that support at the earliest possible opportunity".

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."

Michael, 29, and his wife Susan, 25, from Kirkconnel, Dumfriesshire, say their little boy Iain was already displaying signs of autism aged one year old.

He is due to start school in a few months but is still non-verbal.

Sir Rod previously told the Daily Record his team would work to find a private specialist in London or in Scotland to provide a diagnosis and he would cover the costs.

He told the publication: “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," before 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."