• Replies 6 replies
  • Subscribers 87 subscribers
  • Views 1747 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

Assessment waiting list on NHS

NAS84327

After having our son diagnosed with ASC, it was suggested I undergo an Adult autism assessment - to help me better understand the struggle I have - which were common to ASC, after going through our sons assessment.

I've just had my letter from the NHS to advise that the waiting list is 5, yes, FIVE years.

How is this acceptable!

My suspected ASC is mild - what about others who need support now, not five years time!

  • My son is suspected asd/adhd. Nursery put him on staged intervention at 2years old. HV referred to community paeds at 18 months due to not meeting milestones. He’s 4 in 3 weeks, struggling so much with social interaction and speech and language, was seen in November by community paeds (18 months from referral which I’m told was quick!) paediatrician referred him to neuro development pathway, was told it would be between 2/3 years before he was seen by the neuro team, got a letter through to inform us he’s on the “very long” waiting list and should be seen within 5 years of referral!!!!!! 1 and a half years old he’s been suspected autistic and he may be 8/9 years old before he’s formally assessed! Disgusting 

  • Hello, I’ve been I the wait list since 02/2022 and have my assessment in 03/2023, so have waited a year. I live in Birmingham and my assessment provider is outside this area as I guess the wait-list for local providers is long. 

  • I have been on the waiting list for 3 years and was told that it would be another year at least. Went to my GP and asked about NHS right to choose. They don't voulenteer the information but they paired me eith a private provider and i was refered this week, waiting list 4-6 months. Try asking your GP about right to choose?

  • 5 years is ridiculous which is why i'm going private. Have you looked into Psychiatry-UK? The initial consultation is £900 and the follow up consultation is £180. I have applied for funding from a local healthcare charity called Bromhead to help me pay for the assessment. Perhaps there is a healthcare charity in your area that will help cover the cost for you? The psychiatrist i'm hoping to see has appointment slots in 40 days time 

  • Yep sounds about right. Adult autism assessments are funded by local councils. They are legally obligated to fund a service but nothing in the law says they have to fund it well. I don’t even think the waiting list counts towards the nhs waiting list statistics since the service is provided by the nhs for the council (not all councils contract their service out to the NHS.)

    some councils have been known to just stop accepting GP referrals when their waiting list gets long. … which is arguably illegal. But tbh the best fix would probably be taking councils out of the loop and putting adult assessment and their funding entirely in the NHS. But that would require an amendment in the autism act.

  • Wow!  I was warned by my counsellor that the NHS wait was likely 3 years and I'd kind of come to terms with that but I think I might go private if it's 5 years depending on the cost.  Healthcare in this country is broken.