10 months for camhs assesment?!?

My son who is nearly 5 was refered to camhs for an ASD assessment in may this year after a lot of time wasting by the community paed dr, she told me that it could be up to 6 months waiting time, so I prepared myself and focused on having a diagnosis for the end of the year. 

After 4 months waiting and not hearing anything I decided to call camhs, they took some details and said they would call me back, the next day when I got in from work I had a message that an appoitment had been made for 4th March 2014, 10 months since he was referred. 

I was soo angry and disappointed! I feel that 10 months waiting for an appointment is just ridiculous! 

What is everyone else's experience? Does 10 months sound right? Any advice would be great! 

I live in east renfrewshire, Scotland, and its the Renfrew Camhs, that we have been referred to. 

Im just getting realy stressed out now about the whole situation, and now still got another 6 months to wait till march! It's driving me crazy! 

Parents
  • NHS NICE Guidelines state assessment should take place within 3 months of referral:

    http://www.nice.org.uk/cg128

    "1.5 Autism diagnostic assessment for children and young people

    1.5.1 Start the autism diagnostic assessment within 3 months of the referral to the autism team."

    If your CAMHS is contravening those Guidelines you should challenge them, making it very clear you are aware of the law and how they are failing it.  He who shouts loudest gets heard.  I am not sure if these apply in Scotland however.

Reply
  • NHS NICE Guidelines state assessment should take place within 3 months of referral:

    http://www.nice.org.uk/cg128

    "1.5 Autism diagnostic assessment for children and young people

    1.5.1 Start the autism diagnostic assessment within 3 months of the referral to the autism team."

    If your CAMHS is contravening those Guidelines you should challenge them, making it very clear you are aware of the law and how they are failing it.  He who shouts loudest gets heard.  I am not sure if these apply in Scotland however.

Children
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