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Struggling to find a private practitioner

sep

Hi,

I've chosen to pursue the route of private diagnosis for various reasons.

I've read around this community extensively and have found the advice and resources to be very useful. I've tried to shortlist practitioners in my area from the BPS but 1/6 actually picked up, and she wasn't a registered clinical psychologist or psychiatrist and unable to diagnose.

Can anyone help to point me in the direction of a practitioner on Beds, Herts, Cambs or Northants? Or even Bucks? Or central London. I work in central London and currently live in Beds.

As an aside, after speaking to me for approximately 1 minute, she commented 'well your communication skills are really rather good, so I'm not sure if I would be worried if I was you.. I mean that's one of the things, communication.' I felt utterly belitted - she doesn't me or know why, at nearly 27, I have come to the conclusion to pursue diagnosis. This sort of thing makes me quite afraid about encountering a practitioner who does not delve beneath the surface. Yes, my rational, intellectual communication skills are exceptionally good - everyone has a skill, and I've made a career out of mind. But to imply that means I don't have Asperger's? Unbelievable. I've also benfited from an exceptionally patient mother who spent my childhood explaining and explaining and explaining things to me, again and again. I fear this makes me a particularly difficult case to 'spot' but I have many reasons to believe I do have it.

Thank you

Steph

  • My doctor believed me, but the local area wouldn't fund the referral and I just can't be bothered right now it fight that in an area that might lose a and e.

    does anyone have experience of the Hoffman foundation?

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    :-)

    The NHS fails a lot of us because of the barriers they put in our way. We, aspies, are singularly poor at playing the system and overcoming the hurdles.

    I went prepared with a written list of stories that went back to my childhood. This helped paint the proper picture as i had worked out things that were relevant as i had studied the condition (in a slightly obsessive manner!) before i was pushed to the point of needing an actual diagnosis by my employers.

  • Good point - I do that a lot. Immediately assume someone is personally attacking me. It's exhausting and can make people think I am rude and ungrateful.

    I am going private because my CCG would not fund a referral unless my doctor applied and justified it then I moved out of the area to one facing extreme medical cuts including hospital and a and e closure so just cannot be bothered with the nhs right now. Have had bad experiences of nhs psychiatrists in childhood.

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    Just a thought,

    when you were complimented for your communication skills did you mistake the intent of the comment? Perhaps they were being polite and wanting to put you at your ease? It wouldn't be the first time that an aspie took offence or mistook someones innocent compliment.

    i ended up getting a private opinion (local Priory hospital)because of the queues in the nhs. my nhs GP did the private referral and found a suitable place to go. It was quite painless and has had the anticpated benefits so i can recommend this route although obviously it isn't the cheapest thing to do.

  • Hi sep,

    You may have tried this already but have you called the Autism Helpline? They can help advise about independent diagnosticians.

    You can call them on 0808 800 4104 and they are open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm. 

    You could also, again if you haven't already, have a look on the Autism Services Directory, which can be found at www.autism.org.uk/directory. Click on the 'assessment and diagnosis' thread and you can narrow your search by area. You might need to be a bit patient with the site, it can sometimes be a bit slow.

    Take care,

    Adél, NAS moderator

  • Sod's law - typos and mistakes when talking about one's communication skills. Always happens!