Hi all , if possible i would like to know if anyone can help me with some information on diagnostic /referral times and how to pursue matters further with my local CCG.
after completing the following tests with my psychologist (MCMI-III , ASQ ,EQ ) she suggested i may have aspergers and said she would put me forward for more specialist testing.
after hearing nothing for 6 weeks i contacted who i was refereed to myself and have been told the waiting time is ...12 months , obviously - to me this is totally unacceptable as it is hindering my recovery and what treatment options are available to me.
i have read the NICE autism guidelines and under care pathway (taken from the autism quality standard) it says that
'People with possible autism who are referred to an autism team for a diagnostic assessment have the diagnostic assessment started within 3 months of their referral. '
the above also come under quality measures , this is a link to where i am looking..
pathways.nice.org.uk/.../autism
if anyone knows i would like to know how to pursue the matter (do i contact my GP or CCG and tell them 12 months is not good enough - if CCG who do i speak to? )
many thanks in advance
i agree with you completely , however unfortunatley this is not the case and austism services (even more so for adults) are lacking in many areas.
we have the austism strategy to work with and as i said above , this gives your local CCG a strategy that should be implemented , GP's are not specialists but under the autism strategy all GP's and medical staff should have autism training (in many cases this has not been done).
each CCG area will be at different stages in what has been implemented , the easiest way is to write to your local CCG's commissioning lead for autism (this is usualy the same commissioner as for mental health and learning disabilities ) and to ask them how many of the above points i posted have been implemented /are in place and how many are in the process of being implimented.
remember that the autism strategy is statutory, this means that your CCG has a legal obligation to make sure it is incorporated.
i agree with you completely , however unfortunatley this is not the case and austism services (even more so for adults) are lacking in many areas.
we have the austism strategy to work with and as i said above , this gives your local CCG a strategy that should be implemented , GP's are not specialists but under the autism strategy all GP's and medical staff should have autism training (in many cases this has not been done).
each CCG area will be at different stages in what has been implemented , the easiest way is to write to your local CCG's commissioning lead for autism (this is usualy the same commissioner as for mental health and learning disabilities ) and to ask them how many of the above points i posted have been implemented /are in place and how many are in the process of being implimented.
remember that the autism strategy is statutory, this means that your CCG has a legal obligation to make sure it is incorporated.
