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A positive GP experience

Cra1gyD

Hi guys, I have seen a lot of people on this forum who had bad experiences at their GPs when going for an initial diagnosis. While this is clearly not the way it should be an unwanted side effect is that it can make those of us who have not been diagnosed yet to be reluctant to follow the process. So I thought I would talk about my positive experience with my GP the other day.

I ended up running late for my appointment (obviously I hate being late for anything) which was adding to my stress levels over the appointment anyway so when I turned up I wasn't exactly in the best frame of mind. When I got there my doctor didn't know why I had booked an appointment (despite me telling them when I booked it) but was instantly sympathetic. I started talking and when I began to struggle he asked the right questions to get me going again. He only interrupted me when he wanted extra details and he took loads of notes. He appeared to know enough on the subject of autism and thought it important to get adults diagnosed so he is referring me.

The only down sides are things that he could do nothing about; that appointments are limited to 20 mins (nowhere near long enough really) and that there is a 12 month waiting list for a referral. However I have taken the view that I have been like this for 36 years, what's another 12 months and a diagnosis isn't actually going to change my brain being wired this way. 

So maybe I got lucky with my GP, but it can be like it should be!

Parents

  • I too had a very positive experience going to my GP for a referral, so indeed it isn't always a battle (and certainly shouldn't be!). She could see I had done my homework (I had 3 pages of notes) and to be honest I didn't really have to explain myself at all beyond that I thought I was probably on the autistic spectrum, and she instantly went 'okay, we'll do you a referral'. In and out with her having dictated the referral letter whilst I was there-and taken my notes to include in it-in less than 10 minutes. My surgery is affiliated with my uni though (it's a regular NHS practice and you don't have to be a student to register there, but it is where they encourage all the students to register and it's practically on campus) so I wonder if that had an impact as they must be more used to having people ask about that sort of thing more than average.

    The waiting times in my area are not too bad, I've been waiting since May, and I think assessment should be coming up fairly soon (my mum's just been contacted to arrange getting some info from her via email, so hopefully I should be hearing something imminently...)

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  • I too had a very positive experience going to my GP for a referral, so indeed it isn't always a battle (and certainly shouldn't be!). She could see I had done my homework (I had 3 pages of notes) and to be honest I didn't really have to explain myself at all beyond that I thought I was probably on the autistic spectrum, and she instantly went 'okay, we'll do you a referral'. In and out with her having dictated the referral letter whilst I was there-and taken my notes to include in it-in less than 10 minutes. My surgery is affiliated with my uni though (it's a regular NHS practice and you don't have to be a student to register there, but it is where they encourage all the students to register and it's practically on campus) so I wonder if that had an impact as they must be more used to having people ask about that sort of thing more than average.

    The waiting times in my area are not too bad, I've been waiting since May, and I think assessment should be coming up fairly soon (my mum's just been contacted to arrange getting some info from her via email, so hopefully I should be hearing something imminently...)

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