Stuff the GP !

I suppose I was lucky that I didn't have to put up too much of a fight with the GP's. I saw one who after some questioning reffered me to camhs who were of no help so I went back and saw a different doctor (we rarely end up seeing the same doctor) and she sent us to a consultant paediatrician who immediatly recognised my sons condition and rushed through a diagnosis because he was struggling so much.

Even then the 'rushing' took time. Nothing is ever that quick with the NHS unless you're at deaths door. I think you always have to fight a bit, be very pushy, try and try again and never have your expectations too high.

openheart said:

I hear so often on this forum, I think I have autism, my GP will not refer me.

WHY are the autism community being bottlenecked through a GP system who do not understand nor are specialists in Autism for AUTISM DIAGNOSIS ? Why can't people just self-referrel to there local autism centre clinic for an initial overview of diagnosis, this would save time, resources and a lot of stress for people.

Thoughts please?

Why should GP's roll the dice in Autism, they are failing the autism community.

It's not that often you can self-refer to services.  Most of them I think want it to come through a GP to stave off delusional people/time-wasters/hypochondriacs etc. and so they don't get inundated precisely because their services are so stretched and under-funded.  I was able to self-refer my eldest to CAMHS but my youngest's referral to the child development centre had to go through the GP.

Not all areas have a specific autism diagnostic centre.  Some people have to go out of area which definitely takes a GP referral.  GPs are known as gatekeepers to services.  We are just the hoi-polloi and there's not a chance we could know what is wrong with us or know what the best decision is for us...

This makes me so mad.  I will put up a thread with information to help people.

ETA: Here is is:

http://community.autism.org.uk/discussions/health-wellbeing/diagnosis-assessment/guidance-adults-assessment-diagnosis-through-nhs

What local Autism centre? We're all sent (at least where I am) to CMHT. Who, I think you need a referral to.

It isn't just autism that GP's have 'problems' with. I think the system is over-stretched and there are lots of issues.

I had problems with my stomach and got fobbed of 3 times (wondering now if maybe it was because of my autism) and it was only when I turned up at the surgery with a bag of vomit containing blood that they agreed to refer me to the hospital where I have now had surgery because I had a pre-cancerous condition. I am now recovering well thanks to the fantastic treatment at my local hospital who also understood and coped with my autism really well.

I am now taking action against the GP surgery I attend for not referring me sooner.

And that was a physical problem! Heaven only knows if you have psychological issues how anyone would cope in my surgery.

I was diagnosed when I lived elsewhere in the country,am so glad I wasn't living here then.