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Refused Right To Choose

Old_Guy

I was referred for assessment by my GP surgery to the Devon NHS service for adults with ADHD and ASD. I discovered that they have a waiting time of 6½ years! I am 68 now. Then I heard about Right To Choose and sole to my GP who was fully in support. We found a recognised service provider the GP had used before and I completed the paperwork. I have a massage from the GP stating the referral had been passed on. 

Imagine my distress and anger to find out today, after waiting the required 6 weeks before chasing the referral, that someone in something called the Referral Management Team for Right To Choose has decided I would be better off staying on the list I'm already on - 6½ years instead of 3 months. 

My GP surgery is just as puzzled and is trying to find out more, but, hey, no one is responding to their emails and phone calls - surprise surprise.

Has anyone come across this before? Can anyone offer any advice on how to overcome this beaurocratic nonsense? 

Thank you from a newbie 

  • in reply to Old_Guy

    Hi Old_Guy. Some right to choose services do operate a policy of if you're already on a waiting list they won't offer an assessment but like everything else, the guidelines seem to vary a lot across the country. FYI, my daughter had a terrible time with Psychiatry UK, they were awful. 

    I work in mental health and have heard so many bad stories about them I've stopped suggesting them to folk wanting assessment. I think Autism 360 are reasonable, another good organisation to look out for are Clinical Partners.

    Good luck with everything!

  • I would expect it is a case of prioritisation. Demand for assessments exceeds supply which is partly why there is good private provision.

    They will probably look at younger people and those with higher support needs in preference.

    I decided on a private solution because of this, but I appreciate not everyone has this option.

    Good luck, at least your GP seems to be trying to help.

  • in reply to Old_Guy

    That sounds more hopeful now. I’m not in a Right to Choose area, but nowadays, for autism services and for anything else NHS related, I think we need to keep pushing to find out where we are on the waiting lists. I have disappeared from lists or been put back at the bottom a couple of times.

  • in reply to Jalapeno

    Thanks very much Jalapeno

  • in reply to Old_Guy

    Hi Old_Guy, sound like some progress so hope it's not much longer to wait

    You've waited way too long already  - so will keep my fingers crossed for you

  • An update on my post from a couple of months ago. 

    Neither I or my GP could find out why I'd been refused the Right To Choose assessment with Psychiatry UK - I may well write to them for more information. 

    In the meantime, my GP (after some delay) has now referred my to Autsm 360 and I'm waiting to hear if they will give me an assessment. 

  • Once or twice, is the answer to your question.  I do speculate but it could conceivably be that you are now right at the top of the waiting list so perhaps there is little point in activating right-to-choose.  

    I do wonder if there's any way you can find out how much longer you are likely to have to wait as things stand?   

    I'd also be asking (should the news re the wait now prove unsatisfactory) how you could complain about this decision - normally to the local ICB, but perhaps one thing at a time. 

  • in reply to Professor Precise-a-bug

    Thanks for the reassurance

  • Sorry, I realise I shouldn't be asking for advice, I guess I am asking if anyone else has come across the same issue and what they did about it. Thanks

  • in reply to Old_Guy
    • it made me smile because it’s exactly the same as I would be doing… 
  • in reply to Professor Precise-a-bug

    There, I've found out how to correct it

  • in reply to Old_Guy

    You are so definitely one of us!

  • Sorry, that should read 'Refused Right To Choose