Guidance for Adults for Assessment & Diagnosis through the NHS

Here is information on what to do to get assessed:

http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/all-about-diagnosis/diagnosis-information-for-adults/how-do-i-get-a-diagnosis.aspx (NAS also have a helpline)

Here is a shortened version of the AQ50 (a validated test by Simon Baron-Cohen et al used in ASC assessments) which GP's should use as a screening tool prior to referral:

Link to AQ10 (autism quotient screening questionnaire): http://docs.autismresearchcentre.com/tests/AQ10.pdf (complete and take to GP).

Please note, your GP cannot fob you off with comments such as "there is no support for adults" or "we have no facility to assess locally" etc. You are entitled to an out-of-area assessment if there is no local clinic.

Your right to a second opinion on the NHS.

NHS choices regarding treatment, hospital, clinician etc. Here is NHS Choose & Book.

NHS statement on referrals entitlement here and here.

Check (and leave) reviews of your clinic or hospital before you choose. You may also read and leave reviews here by selecting your place of treatment from the menu.

Here is a quote from the Department of Health:

"Patients currently have the right to choose the organisation that provides their treatment when they are referred for their first outpatient appointment with a service led by consultants, and to information to support that choice. Any choice beyond this is at the discretion of the individual primary care trust (PCT).

You may be aware that the Government has made a number of commitments relating to extending the choice of treatment and provider in the vast majority of NHS-funded services. Views on implementing these commitments were collected in the subsequent public consultation Greater choice and control. The formal responses to the consultation are being published on the Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk and can be found by typing ‘Greater choice and control’ in the search bar.

The NHS Standard Contract states that providers must accept referrals for any patient who chooses that provider and whom it is within their clinical competence to treat.

I would suggest that patients contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at their local PCT, which can be found through the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk. PALS will be able to contact and investigate this issue with the chosen provider."

NHS statement on referrals entitlement: http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1094.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=153

and

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/doctors/Pages/gp-referrals.aspx

NHS NICE guidelines here: http://www.nice.org.uk/CG142

Autism Strategy here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/151844/dh_122910.pdf.pdf

If you need to complain to the NHS about their failures, here:

http://www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsandpledges/complaints/Pages/NHScomplaints.aspx

Anyone facing trouble getting their GP to listen, contact your local councillor here:

http://www.writetothem.com/

If you do not get sufficient help from them, go to your MP here:

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/

There is also the Lords but they have no duty to reply to members of the public:

http://www.writetothem.com/lords

(Mods: please could this be made into a sticky?)

Parents

lostmyway over 9 years ago

vometia, I suppose the NHS make people jump through hoops to make sure that the individuals concerned at least have convinced themselves that they do really have a condition they feel they need to investigate, otherwise there are bound to be cases that are are frivolous and waste valuable resources.
Having said that, I still feel they have moved the goalposts so that the clinical criteria required for a clinical diagnosis is narrowed to exclude people who are on the AS but are more or less 'coping' (whatever that is).
So, we end up with a medical service that will be of use to acute cases (and quite rightly) but of little or no use to people who see themselves as struggling, day to day, and if you want to get satisfaction it seems you have to be prepared to go private.
Still, as long as people are still getting *** enlargements and other cosmetic treatments on the NHS for free we should be happy - shouldn't we?!

Reply

lostmyway over 9 years ago

vometia, I suppose the NHS make people jump through hoops to make sure that the individuals concerned at least have convinced themselves that they do really have a condition they feel they need to investigate, otherwise there are bound to be cases that are are frivolous and waste valuable resources.
Having said that, I still feel they have moved the goalposts so that the clinical criteria required for a clinical diagnosis is narrowed to exclude people who are on the AS but are more or less 'coping' (whatever that is).
So, we end up with a medical service that will be of use to acute cases (and quite rightly) but of little or no use to people who see themselves as struggling, day to day, and if you want to get satisfaction it seems you have to be prepared to go private.
Still, as long as people are still getting *** enlargements and other cosmetic treatments on the NHS for free we should be happy - shouldn't we?!

Children

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