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

ClaireHig over 8 years ago

Most surgeries declare what field their doctors are specialised in. At my surgery these include fertility, sport science, diabetes & even tropical medicine. I have yet to find a GP at my own surgery who claims to specialise in mental health, let alone autism.
My referral was from a support worker. Even though I had seen many GPs & one look at me should be enough to suspect I'm likely autistic.
The incompetent GPs excuse if questioned later why they didn't spot you, would always be that they wouldn't know, it's not their job. A more competent one would at least have referred you to another service. I know it can feel like your talking to a brick wall, but you just need to find the right person to let you in.
The NHS website for adults who feel they may have autism is almost useless. It just redirects adults to NAS website. And instructs them to find information on how to present their case to a GP. In my view this is inadequate, as many adults with ASD may not even be able to get in to see a GP. Nor would they be able to present or answer questions put to them in what's often only a 10 minute appointment. Which itself may be cut to 5 minutes, if the GP is late. A child is given more support, even though children naturally already have many supports in place to fight for their rights. And often little responsibility is currently on their shoulders. It seems that investment is put in place for those with potential to still become high earners, but those who may have already failed are consigned to the scrap heap.

Reply

ClaireHig over 8 years ago

Most surgeries declare what field their doctors are specialised in. At my surgery these include fertility, sport science, diabetes & even tropical medicine. I have yet to find a GP at my own surgery who claims to specialise in mental health, let alone autism.
My referral was from a support worker. Even though I had seen many GPs & one look at me should be enough to suspect I'm likely autistic.
The incompetent GPs excuse if questioned later why they didn't spot you, would always be that they wouldn't know, it's not their job. A more competent one would at least have referred you to another service. I know it can feel like your talking to a brick wall, but you just need to find the right person to let you in.
The NHS website for adults who feel they may have autism is almost useless. It just redirects adults to NAS website. And instructs them to find information on how to present their case to a GP. In my view this is inadequate, as many adults with ASD may not even be able to get in to see a GP. Nor would they be able to present or answer questions put to them in what's often only a 10 minute appointment. Which itself may be cut to 5 minutes, if the GP is late. A child is given more support, even though children naturally already have many supports in place to fight for their rights. And often little responsibility is currently on their shoulders. It seems that investment is put in place for those with potential to still become high earners, but those who may have already failed are consigned to the scrap heap.

Children

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