Published on 12, July, 2020
I have my ASD assessment booked. The NHS waiting list in my area is years and as I am now 36 and struggling with depression and anxiety I think may be related to masking I just don’t feel I can wait that long.
I am incredibly fortunate that through my husband’s job we have private healthcare which will cover a private assessment.
Unfortunately I’ve had a few people tell me that ‘you get what you pay for’ and that private assessors will pretty much diagnose anyone. This is making me really worried and I wondered if anyone had any thoughts on this?
I couldn’t wait for NHS so I went private getting a registered qualified clinical psychologist specialising in Autism from this website. I have had no problem with it. My GP, hospital and the DWP have all recognised it. It was shorter (fewer stages) than my nephew’s diagnosis who waited several years to get an NHS appointment.
The other issue is they really want to interview a parent too and both mine were dead by then.
My sister says that she has heard people say “you are getting a diagnosis because you paid for it” but I think if you are carful to get a properly qualified person it shouldn’t happen it is against the ethical code they sign up to and they could be struck off the register. It is quite insulting to a proper Psychologist to have this suggested.
That’s really helpful, thank you.