• Replies 6 replies
  • Subscribers 84 subscribers
  • Views 1068 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

GP attitude to referring for diagnosis.

Sassenach

I've finally made a telephone appointment with my GP to ask for an autism assessment referral. Ive not had a lot to do with this particular GP, preferring to see others in the practice whever ive needed an appointment. Now of course my brain is in overdrive second guessing that she will not believe me and instead just diagnose anxiety. This imposter syndrome is so debillitating. I've been writing things down but am still worried my mind will go blank and I will just forget and then mumble my way through the appointment and end up back to square one.

Were your GPs unhelpful, or did they just refer as requested? 

  • Mine was really helpful. I was expecting him to be dismissive as that's what I've come to expect from GPs, lol, but I had recently moved clinics and had a new doctor.

    He asked me why I thought I might be autistic, and I explained my reasons...  or at least tried to! I got really flustered and my mind went blank and I fumbled my words, so I just asked if he'd read the email I sent in when I booked the appointment. Luckily he had! 

    He openly admitted to me that he wasn't experienced with autism and would look into it for me. He got back to me the next day with an AQ10 to complete and a form to fill in with some details, which I returned and got the referral.

  • in reply to Sassenach

    Well I just came off a call with my GP and she is happy to refer me. Whether they accept the referral based on a phone call, who knows, but it's one thing ticked off the list. 

  • in reply to Dawn

    I doubt mine will let me just write a letter. I'll see how the telephone appointment goes, hopefully she will listen to me and not fob me off. 

  • I didn't speak to mine directly. I wrote a letter outlining why I needed a referral and enclosing the online tests I done. It saved me all that bother. The GP sent me an AQ 10 and then referred. 

  • I'd been seeing a therapist beforehand and she suggested I seek a diagnosis, and we did the AQ10 form together. 

    So then I went to see my GP, she was quite matter-of-fact about it and said that she'd need to have the AQ10 form as supporting evidence to request funds for the diagnosis referral.

    So I got the completed AQ10 from my therapist and went back to the GP, and it was fine from there.

    I didn't really have any trouble with my GP, though she did need the form - so, I might suggest you print out a copy of the AQ10 form, fill it out and take it to your meeting. That could grease the wheels a bit.

  • Firstly well done, that's a huge and courageous step to have taken. Here's hoping all will go well and this will get the ball rolling in the right direction for you :) 

    I saw two drs. The first wasn't especially good with me, seemed to be annoyed with my way of communicating and made me feel like I was wasting his time. The second dr was much better. Kind, patient and supportive, everything a dr should be. He was more than happy to write things down for me and communicated brilliantly with me. He got the ball rolling for me and started the journey for me, was with me from start to finish. I was so happy to have him then and he's still my dr now :) 

    I hope your dr will be as nice and supportive with you.