Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi everyone,I am 26 years old and i have suffered throughout my life with what i just considered "Quirks" such as obsessions with activities and interests, struggles socialising and speaking face to face (making eye contact, portraying message in a understandable manner). I first learnt about Aspergers around 6-7 years ago after watching a TV series and it was at this point i saw a few similarities with my daily struggles. I found a few tests online (however accurate these may be) however each and everyone i did advised me to speak to my GP. However at the time i didnt really think too much regarding this and at the time i just starting my working life so i didnt want anything that could hinder this.
This brings me onto this year, i recently lost my job of 4 and a half years due to travel issues (office moved) and health issues and after a couple of weeks unemployed i was fortunate to start in a smaller firm. Unfortunately they decided to release me after 3 weeks as they put it "it seemed i didnt want to be there and didnt make an effort to fit in", at this point i did attempt to advise them of my issues socialising with people especially groups of people as i do find it overwhelming and incredible hard to partake in discussions in such situations. Unfortunately this fell on deaf ears and my contract was terminated. After this i started to think back to when i did the test a few years ago and some of the questions and thought if i do have Aspergers or another form of Autism at least with doctors evidence this could prevent any wrongful dismissals in the future roles. So as stated on many sites i spoke to my GP and we discussed all the traits that i felt where applicable to myself (i did speak to those closest to me aswell to make sure it wasnt in my head and several people all agreed independently of themselves some of the traits) and we did a test (Austism Spectrum Quotient (QA)), of which i scored 9/10. My GP then advised me they would pass this on to a specialist who will be in touch.
Then comes today when i get a phone call from my GP to advise they do not have the funding to pass this on to get a diagnoses and this was due to the location of the surgery and the only option if i want a diagnoses is to 'go private' as stated above i am currently unemployed and simply cannot afford this, so i was wondering is there any way round this to get a diagnoses (for or against) or is private the only option and if so how would i go about doing this? I live in the Birmingham area however my GP apparently comes under Sandwell.
Thank you for any advise/information provided it will be greatly appreciated
I'm in Staffs where there is no adult autism diagnostic service but I was referred out of county to the NHS service at Dorothy Pattison Hospital at Walsall and they also run a service from Dudley neither of which are a million miles away from Sandwell or Birmingham. I don't know if you can get referred there but I believe they are breaking the law in not offering you a diagnosis via the NHS.
I don't know if you can get referred there but I believe they are breaking the law in not offering you a diagnosis via the NHS.
Almost. The Autism Act 2009 and later supplements say that there is a legal duty to have a pathway from screening to support for all autistic or suspected autistic adults. The tricky bit is that this law applies to your local authority, not the NHS, CCG or your doctor. Because the law doesn't define what front-line service should actually implement any of these things, everyone gets to pass the buck to someone else. Some local authorities haven't even got as far as the "define a pathway" bit yet, never mind any of the concrete services that we need.
As a last resort if your GP's hands are really tied, a visit to a surgery with your councillor or MP might be worth a try.
Its saddening that it may have to come to that :(
There's always Midlands Today, Radio WM, Birmingham Evening Mail etc if you are brave enough?.... not sure I would be!