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ASD Assessment - 3 year wait?

NAS51148

Hello,
I had been referred by my GP for a “ASD” Autism Spectrum Disorder assessment. 
I filled out a very long booklet and provided childhood evidence and supporting letters, I received a letter back saying that I have been put forward for an assessment to help with a diagnosis, however it’s a 3 year wait. after calling for more information on the waiting list I was informed there was only 1 Dr dealing with all the referrals and that Dr is not actually accepting any new referrals till the 500+ in queue have cleared. Even if I was put down as a priority I still wouldn’t be seen any sooner!

its important to get a diagnosis so I can receive the correct treatment in my other services, my GP is also looking to get a diagnosis so this would help with the support I receive. There is a lot of other reasons why too which are personal. 

So I decided to look for private companies for to look for getting a diagnosis however the quotes have been over £1,000. 

Dont suppose anybody has any advice on this? I’ve been moved from service to service for years because I don’t have a diagnosis and they can’t seem to fathom what’s wrong. It wasn’t until I saw my new GP who picked up on my “symptoms/traits” who suggested it. 

Thanks in advance. 

  • in reply to Beaky8401

    Hi! Thank you for the suggestion, I had actually spoken to the Anchor Psychiatry in Norwich last week, and the price is certainly more promising than the other quotes I had received. 

    I’m looking at using this route soon rather than the 3 year wait, I won’t have any issues about getting the referral from my GP. 

    They suggest taking a family member who can discuss your traits through childhood, was you able to take someone with you? I’m not sure I’m able to! 

    Thank you for your advice :) 

  • The private service I used takes referals from any GP and the process took 8 weeks. It cost me £550. I went to Anchor Psychiatry in Norwich, their website is easy to find if you google anchor psyhiatry Norwich. Your GP will recieve a copy of your assessment and diagnosis report to add to your medical record to make it NHS official.

    I would have also been on a 3yr waiting list too otherwise! So glad I took the private route.

  • The private service I used takes referals from any GP and the process took 8 weeks. It cost me £550. I went to Anchor Psychiatry in Norwich, their website is easy to find if you google anchor psyhiatry Norwich. Your GP will recieve a copy of your assessment and diagnosis report to add to your medical record to make it NHS official.

    I would have also been on a 3yr waiting list too otherwise! So glad I took the private route.

  • Wow, I can't believe how bad it is, as if we haven't been waiting long enough for answers. It would be difficult to be waiting for so long. I had a years wait for assessment where I am but couldn't do it as feared it would make my mental health worse not knowing, so I paid £600 for mine to be done, not though NHS. Try looking for someone who maybe does privet and NHS, failing that you may have to travel to find someone who could maybe offer the assessment in your price range, but I think I was very very lucky to get it done at that price. Just keep looking, one day the wait may come down.

  • Gosh I thought my 14 month waiting list was long. I dont have any advice unfortunately just sympathy!

  • Yep....in my area it's also a 2-3 year wait. It used to be shorter a couple years back, You can see the self-reported waiting times from 2016 here (question 29 in the spreadsheet): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/autism-self-assessment-framework-exercise But now the waiting times have grown exponentially. I think a private assessment would be worth it, since usually it's only a couple of weeks' wait, but I agree it's £1000 is a large amount... There are some private clinics that charge less but you may need to do some searching to find the cheapest one.

  • There's a three year waiting list in my area too. It's been about a year since I went to the gp for my referral, and when I called the diagnostic service after Christmas they said I still had two and a half years to go Slight frown 

    I'm afraid I don't have any advice for you, but wanted to let you know there are others in the same position. We're on a low income too so no chance of going private. 

    Hope things start to speed up for both of us!

  • I am currently undergoing a series of assessments. It took 15 months before I got an appointment and I too considered going private. It was worth the wait though as I have been diagnosed as being on the spectrum and having ADHD, so far.