Paying Privately for Adult Aspergers Assessment?

The way the world goes round, to use a metaphor, it is quite likely such things do occur. There are safeguards but yes, I can quite well believe it.

I'm still nowhere nearer getting to grips with alleged over- diagnosis and quackery.

If people are going to pay for private diagnoses, and with the difficulties getting NHS diagnoses in some parts of the country, people like the author of this thread Yvanna, need to have confidence that the diagnosis they pay a lot for is reliable.

JDW and Kanga have both said that the NHS doesn't accept private diagnosis. It seems to have happened to Kanga. This would be a serious issue that perhaps NAS should address on the website (maybe already does - I haven't checked).

However that's a long way from the assertion of significant misdiagnosis taking place.

You are raising "evidence" which if legally contestable, could bring this forum into ill repute.

Please reconsider this one. It is important, I expect, to a lot of people visiting this discussion group.

It is indirect evidence that private medicine contains pitfalls. Doctors are concerned with the profit motive, so what is to stop them from diagnosing people quickly and badly in order to encourage other people to come to them for diagnosis? I am not saying this happens that often, but surely there is not much to stop it from happening in private practice?

Ah, 43 years ago, back in the days when aspergers symptoms were being treated as early onset schizophrenia!

How is that evidence of over diagnosis and quackery?

Although published 1n 1968, Samuel Mencher's book 'British private medical practice and the NHS' is, I feel, still relevant for todays debate. Here is a quote from page 99: ''Patients who pay, often come without the knowledge or approval of their family doctor. Desiring to avoid out-patient queues, the private patient subjects the doctor to barely disguised bribery''. The NHS, on the other hand, is unresponsive to consumer demand and the whims of the profit motive.

Apologies but I do feel concerned about those last lines Hope - "there is a lot of OVER-diagnosis and quackery going on in private medicine".

Please back this up. Otherwise it is an assertion that could be upsetting to a lot of people.

I would keep on pursuing the NHS route, particularly if you will require support post diagnosis. The NHS does not usually accept private diagnosis, quite understandably, because private practice infringes upon the NHS ethos. The problem with private diagnoses is that the doctor may feel obliged to give you a diagnosis because you are paying them lots of money, so the patient/doctor relationship is distorted and subjectivity too often comes into the equation. NHS diagnoses are more objective, which might mean that there is a greater chance someone will not get diagnosed with whatever condition they think they have. But it does mean that your diagnosis is as accurate as it can be because the doctor is working for the public good more than their own private gain,  which means there is no direct financial pressure on providing information that the patient wants to here.

Personally I am sceptical, rightly or wrongly, when someone says they have been privately diagnosed. I always think, what if the doctor did not diagnose properly?. But if a person is diagnosed on the NHS I see them as a more genuine case. I don't wish to offend anyone who has been privately diagnosed, but there is a lot of OVER-diagnosis and quackery going on in private medicine.

Hi,

Sadly that is the experience of many adults I know who have sought a diagnosis privately.

James

I live in north east of England and was referred to a private centre 40 miles away through my NHS GP.  I found the private diagnosis quite unhelpful as they did not have my NHS records so I got stressed having to go through my whole life history.  I got the diagnosis of Aspergers but then my NHS mental health team sent me for a NHS diagnosis as they did not accept the private one.

Nag. nag and nag even more and eventually you'll get your referral. Does your GP surgery have more than one GP? If so ask to see a different GP and get a second opinion and hopefully that GP will give you the referral you need.

Write down all the Aspergers symptons and with each sympton put down examples that match you and your behaviour from your life.

I am lucky enough to have a referral but I can't get to the assessment centre and I'm struggling to get my assessment done.

The only person I know who got a private diagnosis spent £1000+ only to find his GP would not recognise his diagnosis. I do not know many of the details but it is something perhaps you should bare in mind.

James

I'm very interested in taking this route as well. If someone can suggest a Private doctor and also if such a diagnosis will be acceptable for the workplace & also welfare. Right now the stress of going through a GP diagnosis is not one I can deal with, however, I do need a diagnosis to help with getting and keeping a job.