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Waiting is making me ill - should I go private?

BristolSteve

Hi all

Been on the waiting list with BASS since March. Have to say I’m not coping too well, drinking too much, ocd is insane, eczema bad, and generally feeling tearful and sad most of the time. I’m hiding it well from my partner, family and friends as I always do - years of masking depression mean I’m pretty good at it. But I don’t want to be like this and feel life is on hold until I know one way or the other. Is private assessment a good idea and will it be accepted by the NHS? Any private recommendations in the Bristol area? Appreciate it’s costly but some things are worth paying for and my own health is one of them. The thought of being this way for another year or two at least is not helping.

 
Thanks

Steve

  • Hi,

    I am in totally the same position. I was referred to BASS October 2021 and not heard a single thing. It is driving me insane with anxiety and proving difficult when coming to my self perception. I truly think if you are in a position to do so that you should go private! I hope everything goes well with whatever route you go down 

  • I was diagnosed ADHD aged 58 last year. I was also diagnosed ASD this week and I went through the NHS 'Right to Choose' referral scheme using Psychiatry UK - they have a hugely informative website which includes template letter for GP referral. As far as I know there are only a couple of UK areas who won't use this 'shared care' scheme, I believe this is listed on the P-UK site.

    As far as school reports go, I was lucky that I had some old primary school ones of my own, as both parents are long dead and my brother wouldn't have a clue where to start speaking about how I was growing up as he had his own issues at the time.

    So my daughter - aged 27 filled in the 'informant report' section which they said at the time of my assessment was probably much better information than, say, ageing parents who might dispute the whole neurodiverse thing out of hand.

    I hope that helps. The waiting times at P-UK are also very much shorter than waiting times with the NHS.

    Debs

  • Hi , if you were interested in getting a private assessment, you can use our Autism Services Directory to find a professional. It is important the professional you see has experience of autism spectrum disorders. You can find details of diagnostic services on our Directory in the Assessment and diagnosis section: 

    https://www.autism.org.uk/directory 

    Best wishes,

    Anna Mod

  • in reply to Kate Kestrel

    Sorry : I meant to write ‘mean a waiting list’ above -  not ‘needs waiting list’. 
    The waiting lists for everything on the nhs are appalling. I’m sorry this is weighing so heavily on you - I’m in the same boat too - waiting for therapy for anxiety and ptsd and the wait is contributing to my problems. 

  • Presumably you need a waiting list for an autism assessment? 
    it might be worth considering that once you’ve had the assessment it doesn’t actually mean that (as an adult) you get any actual help - not in our experience anyway. The other issues like ocd and depression etc are just treated by the same routes as for not autistic people (in our area anyway). So you will most likely just find yourself on another waiting list for all of those things. 
    I think it would be great if you could be more open with your family etc too - it must be such a strain for you to keep hiding things from them and if they care about you I’m sure they’d be supportive and hopefully that would be a positive for you.

    good luck :) 

  • (Ocd, eczema and depression- is that me!?) Currently on the waiting list too, estimated wait time is 12 months…

    A private assessment will be accepted by the nhs, the only difference is that it’s faster and you pay for it. Wishing the best for you whatever you decide to do!