what’s the best place to get a autism diagnosis test? Not everywhere is the same. Is there any better places to go in Scotland as it costs a out of money
what’s the best place to get a autism diagnosis test? Not everywhere is the same. Is there any better places to go in Scotland as it costs a out of money
This isn’t a hard rule, it states where available. Usually children get this or any other NHS assessment (if you don’t retire before you get seen). NHS is based around MDT.
A single experienced consultant psychiatrist (or clinical psychologist) who:
this is sufficient, valid, fits NICE criteria and is 99% of private assessments. Mine was done by a leading psychiatrist in the field at NHS South London and Maudsley which are also home to some of the top consultants in the world, but also sees people privately. It was accepted by my GP and is my medical record. I don’t want people thinking if it’s not MDT led then it’s invalid as that’s not the case. Your comment infers that, at least that’s what I taken from it.
The ‘gold standard’ according to NICE guidelines is for the assessment to be conducted by a multi disciplinary team of appropriate professionals. This is shown in the link you have provided and I have copied the relevant section.
In my area, the GPs accepted private diagnosis only if the assessment was conducted according to these guidelines.
Here is a section of the NICE guidelines from the link you provided:
In order to effectively provide care and support for autistic adults, the local autism multi-agency strategy group should include representation from managers, commissioners and clinicians from adult services, including mental health, learning disability, primary healthcare, social care, housing, educational and employment services, the criminal justice system and the third sector. There should be meaningful representation from autistic people and their families, partners and carers.
In each area a specialist community-based multidisciplinary team for autistic adults (the specialist autism team) should be established. The membership should include:
psychologists with training and experience in working with autistic adults
nurses
occupational therapists
psychiatrists
social workers
speech and language therapists
support staff (for example, staff supporting access to housing, educational and employment services, financial advice, and personal and community safety skills).
The specialist autism team should have a key role in the delivery and coordination of:
specialist diagnostic and assessment services
specialist care and interventions
advice and training to other health and social care professionals on the diagnosis, assessment, care and interventions for autistic adults (as not all may be in the care of a specialist team)
support in accessing, and maintaining contact with, housing, educational and employment services
support to families, partners and carers where appropriate
care and interventions for autistic adults living in specialist residential accommodation
training, support and consultation for staff who care for autistic adults in residential and community settings.
I want to be specific here on the wording and emphasis the word ‘should’ as you didn’t include that wording is important. Should is not must. Also, the entire section is described as “recommendations”.
The heading line says:
“1.2.5 A comprehensive assessment should:”
That colon is doing the work.
if MDT was mandatory (which it’s not), GPs around the country would not be coding autism into people’s NHS record (which is the final stamp). This demonstrates my point and how the NICE guidelines are applied in the real world.
NHS have a single clinician doing the assessments too who may have MDT oversight (most consultants do).
This section describes recommended service organisation and assessment best practice, not a mandatory requirement for diagnostic validity. NICE uses “should” rather than “must”, and adult diagnoses by trained clinicians are routinely accepted and coded by the NHS. I’m comfortable leaving it there.
Any GP surgery must accept a diagnosis by a qualified clinician who has followed the correct diagnostic guidance
It looks like NAS does not agree with this:
some people may experience difficulties with having their non-NHS diagnosis accepted by local authority and NHS health services; before deciding to go ahead with a non-NHS diagnosis, it is a good idea to check whether this will be accepted in your area.
I’m surprised to be reading this on a forum like here. Any GP surgery must accept a diagnosis by a qualified clinician who has followed the correct diagnostic guidance
I’m not sure why you are surprised as this forum is for all autistic adults, their families, & others who have an interest in autism. All sorts of people post things here and it people may or may not provide factual information. Sometimes posts conflict. If you are happy with your assessment and your GP has accepted it, that is another thing.
I find it Ill placed as you’re implying people’s diagnosis are not valid unless MDT led, which is not accurate
I did no such thing.
I can only tell you what my GP surgery said, and what the NHS Adult Autism services and two Autism charities in my area said. The advice and guidance section on this website provides information about assessment by a multidisciplinary team. Iain has already provided this very good advice, but with government cut backs to services and political scaremongering over autism diagnosis, I would still suggest assessment by a multidisciplinary team, according to NICE guidelines. (It might decrease the likelihood of a diagnosis potentially being reevaluated and not accepted at at later date)
For this very reason some GPs won't accept some private diagnoses to be added to your medical record so I would check with the GP before paying as it may not get the result you want.
Here is a further section of NICE guidelines:
A comprehensive assessment should:
be undertaken by professionals who are trained and competent
be team-based and draw on a range of professions and skills
where possible involve a family member, partner, carer or other informant or use documentary evidence (such as school reports) of current and past behaviour and early development.
I’m surprised to be reading this on a forum like here. Any GP surgery must accept a diagnosis by a qualified clinician who has followed the correct diagnostic guidance
I’m not sure why you are surprised as this forum is for all autistic adults, their families, & others who have an interest in autism. All sorts of people post things here and it people may or may not provide factual information. Sometimes posts conflict. If you are happy with your assessment and your GP has accepted it, that is another thing.
I find it Ill placed as you’re implying people’s diagnosis are not valid unless MDT led, which is not accurate
I did no such thing.
I can only tell you what my GP surgery said, and what the NHS Adult Autism services and two Autism charities in my area said. The advice and guidance section on this website provides information about assessment by a multidisciplinary team. Iain has already provided this very good advice, but with government cut backs to services and political scaremongering over autism diagnosis, I would still suggest assessment by a multidisciplinary team, according to NICE guidelines. (It might decrease the likelihood of a diagnosis potentially being reevaluated and not accepted at at later date)
For this very reason some GPs won't accept some private diagnoses to be added to your medical record so I would check with the GP before paying as it may not get the result you want.
Here is a further section of NICE guidelines:
A comprehensive assessment should:
be undertaken by professionals who are trained and competent
be team-based and draw on a range of professions and skills
where possible involve a family member, partner, carer or other informant or use documentary evidence (such as school reports) of current and past behaviour and early development.
I want to be specific here on the wording and emphasis the word ‘should’ as you didn’t include that wording is important. Should is not must. Also, the entire section is described as “recommendations”.
The heading line says:
“1.2.5 A comprehensive assessment should:”
That colon is doing the work.
if MDT was mandatory (which it’s not), GPs around the country would not be coding autism into people’s NHS record (which is the final stamp). This demonstrates my point and how the NICE guidelines are applied in the real world.
NHS have a single clinician doing the assessments too who may have MDT oversight (most consultants do).
This section describes recommended service organisation and assessment best practice, not a mandatory requirement for diagnostic validity. NICE uses “should” rather than “must”, and adult diagnoses by trained clinicians are routinely accepted and coded by the NHS. I’m comfortable leaving it there.
