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Getting a copy of a diagnosis

BigDonnyP

Hi Everyone

This may sound odd but I was wondering how you would go about getting a copy of the diagnosis of Autism? I was diagnosed sometime between 2002 and 2004 when referred to Mental Health services for chronic anxiety and depression. The psychiatrist I saw soon informed me that I had been referred as my counsellor though I may have schizophrenia but he said he felt my sensory distortions as they had been recorded were more indicative of Autism and so he went into doing an assessment that conformed that I am not schizophrenic but rather Autistic.

Problem is I wasn't ever given a paper copy of this and now feel I may need the formal details of the assessments they did because my PIP renewal has gone a head and I am wanting to know more about me. I have a poor memory for dates and at the time I was in a violent and alcohol fuelled relationship so know I was a mess.

My doctors have said that it shows as far back as 2004 I am on the spectrum - diagnosis actually says HFA so would have been a long time ago as this isn't given anymore. I mentioned possibility of a re-referral and doctor said there was no point as they already know I am. My concern is that other people (PIP mainly) will suddenly need more proof.


  • Have you asked your GP whether there is a copy of the report in your NHS health records?

    I asked mine last month (via email), they emailed back to check my ID and then emailed again to confirm that the report and confirmation of diagnosis were on file attaching a scanned copy of the original. 

  • in reply to Plastic

    You failed to inform him that getting your GP to write letter to support as evidence can cost between £30 and £200.

    the autism diagnosis may not be enough evidence to support a PIP claim when it comes to sensory issues and you will to submit a copy of sensory processing disorder diagnosis in order to be awarded significant points.

  • Hi, BDP:

    I am in a bit of a time crunch and dictating this on the iPad, so please forgive any spelling or grammar mistakes. Blush

    You’re absolutely entitled to a copy of any assessment done of you, regardless of when it occurred. I recommend that you formally request a copy of the assessment report document.

    In the unlikely event that the report literally no longer exists – for some reason was expunged from the records of the clinician who conducted the assessment and/or his or her organization, for example - Then you have the right to obtain confirmation in writing from that clinician or that organization that you received a diagnosis of autism from them, when it occurred, and who the clinician was.

    I don’t recommend you pursue a new diagnosis before pursuing getting a copy of your original report. If you open the door to getting reassessed, I think it would be more risky for you then simply taking the time now, perhaps a matter of weeks or more, to obtain the original report, to which you are entitled. Gosh forbid you pursue a second diagnosis and, based on perhaps poor clinicalPractices, don’t receive it.

    I recommend you seek help from a free of charge advocate to pursue getting a copy of your original assessment report. If the organization that originally assessed you is approached by someone in that person’s formal, professional capacity, they will likely react more promptly and professionally to the request and then if you were to contact them yourself.

    Also, an advocate will have colleagues who can step in and assist, in the event that he or she is called away to do other work. Additionally, once an organization takes on the task of helping you obtain the report, then the task, in a sense, becomes “their problem“. They will likely be very thorough about wanting to get the report for you and check it off their to do list.

    If you were wondering how to obtain an advocate to help you in that process, I would recommend contacting the national Autistic society – the organization that hosts this webpage. They should be able to provide you with a recommendation.

    If it is helpful, please feel free to print off my message here and refer to it when you approach the charity that runs this webpage and/or a potential advocate.

    Good luck! I’m sending you lots of support and feel free to message me anytime.

    Elizabeth

  • PIP is points based - they assess your needs using this https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system

    As you can see, you'll need some kind of medical letters to back up your claim so it's worth having a good think about how your condition fits with the points system to see if you think you'll score highly enough and then speak to your gp.

    Be aware - the DWP are not your friends - they get so many fraudulent applications that non-obvious and mental disabilities often get rejected unless you have overwhelming evidence supporting your claim.