School says to go via GP, GP says to go via school...

Thanks for all your comments, I really appreciate it.

The school are fully on board and his teacher has been great, so we're going via the school now. We'll see how things go...

I have had experience of both, my son was referred via the school when he was 6 but was discharged with no diagnosis. He changed schools when he was 9 and the new school to me to re - refer him via the GP. She said I would get an appointment quicker if it went through the GP but she did do a supporting letter to pass to the DR. Make sure that you get something from the school to take with you as my DR seemed reluctant until I showed her the letter. No idea why?

Hi,

  If, as it seems, that you are being pushed from pillar to post, I strongly advise you go straight to the LA and request a statutory assessment of your childs needs.

This has to be done formally and IPSEA have sample letters to help you with this. The reason I suggest this, is that it can take years to get assessed and in the meantime, valuable intervention is lost.

www.ipsea.org.uk/.../model-letter-1

If you have a suspision and the situation is obvious to others it doesn't really matter which setting it's witnessed in. Many children are model pupils at School and a nightmare at home.

Getting the process started in this way should trigger requests to the School from the LA about your childs progress and difficulties. The School are duty bound to comply. In the meantime, I would definately ask another GP at your practice if you are being fobbed off. Reluctance in this is often for financial reasons, but that isn't in your childs best interest. Their is a care pathway through the NHS, you should be aware of. Look it up and remind the GP if he refuses again.

Does your child have any other difficulties? Words, Balance, fine gross motor Skills?

If the LA refuse to assess (And some do as a matter of course.) you will need to go to mediation. However, if by then, you have evidence to show significant difficulty, then it's hard for the LA to put up a resonable case for delay in assessment.

I was niave to it all and diddn't get a statement for my son until the second year of secondary School. By then any intivention was more or less lost on him. He's suffered terribly as a a result and as a young adult cannot read, write or manage much everyday living without considerable support.

The key here is your childs needs. You are not being heard. If you have a gut reaction that something is wrong, the chances are you should listen to it. Some may try to fob you off with comments like, 'lets see how things go.' If you are not happy with that, then make it known. I didn't have the assertiveness to argue and I deeply regret not being firmer and demanding what was right for my son.

Stay firm, insist and do contact IPSEA for advice, as they are the experts for the new system rules also.

Good Luck

Coogy

It is the GP's responsibility to get a diagnosis. It is the school's responsibility to then make provision, eg through statementing.

GPs have had this explained to them often enough. GPs who behave like this are just lazy incompetent wasters.

Your GP surgey should have a Patient Participation Group. Contact them (they should be identifiable on the surgery website). The PPG may not be that good at acting independently so if they seem reluctant ask that it be taken up by the umbrella organisation that brings PPG Chairs together, usually the Patient Experience Manager in the Clinical Commissioning Group (but this designation varies a lot).

Unfortunately progress on early diagnosis is being held back by ignorant GPs. One objective in World Autism Awareness Week might to be to demonstrate outside your GP surgery.

Hi, if you find 1 of the GP partners being unwilling, then make an appt with another 1 (unless you've already tried that).

If he is generally OK but struggling at school then it's in the school's interest to get a diagnosis. If he is struggling outside school then it may be more in your interest to get a diagnosis and the GP may be the quickest route. Neither will want to spend money if they can avoid it!

Although our grandson's autism was first suspected by his nursery school, it was the GP that referred him to an paediatrician for diagnosis.