Right to choose

Thanks

Good luck 

Thanks for this, and the update. Even though it is quite confusing and concerning. 8 years truly sounds mental...

I am a little concerned, because I have a sense or irony with me - I feel like I am a reasonably good communicator, but if I get thrown of my track or find myself under pressure then my articulation goes down hill fast sometimes.

I struggle talking to my GP, as it is a shared practice and my previous GP (who I had built a relationship with) left last Nov. I have seen two different GPs since and while I am talking to then they highlight they don't have time and then I end up shutting up and not saying what I wanted to...

I am going to see my GP next week but a bit worried about tbh...

I think I am going to say right off the bat I want to go down the right to choose model 

I did wonder if this might be the nature of the misunderstanding.

I've posted about this issue before:

"If you go for a private ADHD diagnosis, then keep in mind that you could end up needing to fund the cost of any ongoing medication privately.

As explained here:

“…for adults with ADHD is that any diagnosis from a private clinic for which a GP refuses to sign a shared care agreement will likely result in the requirement for medications to be issued privately, rather than by the NHS. However, shared care agreements with private healthcare providers when this service is being provided for the patient on behalf of the NHS (such as through the Right to Choose scheme) are common.”

ADHD Adult UK - ADHD and your GP

This also explains more, including recommending discussing shared care in advance with your GP:

ADHD Aware - How to get a private assessment for ADHD"

Slight update. I spoke to the NHS clinic yesterday and apparently there's an issue with right to choose ADHD diagnosis as it involves medication and causes issues with "shared care". I was told that since ASD it doesn't matter "as there's no treatment anyway"!

I've contacted my assessment provider and the local PALS via email to see what they say before I go further.

On the assistants front the clinic had suggested that I contact a local autism organisation for help. I spoke to them and they have a four month waiting list before they can offer to see me, they have over 1200 clients and just 4 staff.

When I mentioned this to person at the clinic they were very dismissive and said that their waiting list was longer and that I'd have to wait.

Hopefully it's just a case that I spoke to someone that was either poorly informed and/or were having a bad day.

Essentially under Right to Choose the NHS is still paying for the assessment. They are just paying a private provider that you have selected. Therefore it is nonsensical that they would not recognise the diagnosis they have paid for. Although, that said, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard this. I had my assessment under Right to Choose, but I’ve never looked into what additional support there is because there isn’t any, and that would annoy me!

if I were you I would contact your local MP and possibly CC Wes Streeting. Labour are supposed to be clearing the NHS backlog, not adding to it!

Persevere, be nice, but don't just accept this. The public sector can have a tendency to 'bat away' additional work due to resources, and we all know how strapped this particular area of work has become 

I'm confident you'll get there, it just may take a while!!

This doesn’t sound right to me at all. Your GP referred you via the Right to Chose, the NHS paid for the assessment. But then won’t recognise it?

I would be interested to hear what the local commissioners say about this. Why are they spending money on assessments with these Providers if they’re not recognised?Surely they check the credentials etc to ensure patients receive an equal service?

They were my first port of call and I'm waiting on a response. The person I spoke to from the NHS clinic was quite "sharp" in tone. I'd called the previous day and asked the same question and was told that they'd look into it and call me back later that day, the call didn't come. So when I called back about 20+ hours later to check I ended up speaking to someone else. 

There does seem to be a degree of gatekeeping going around. She was also talking about ADHD and saying that they don't have any available medication as there's a national shortage, even though I'd not mentioned anything about it.

I've also emailed our local PALS. The whole thing just seems a bit "off" for want of a better term.

I'd definitely also contact the provider who conducted the assessment for your diagnosis - Discuss this suggestion with them!! Personally, I suspect this is either an ill-informed NHS representative, or poor 'budget-tightening' decision making 

Hergé said:

apparently they don't recognise most autism diagnosis from most non-nhs providers. 

This surprised me but on looking into it a bit deeper it seems to be a thing:

https://adhdandautismclinic.co.uk/will-the-nhs-accept-private-autism-diagnosis/

Considering the number of people posting on here who have complained about the NHS assessment seeming amateur or sincere then it is odd they would dismiss 3rd parties so readily.

I think ArchaeC is right to suggest you speak to a decision maker at the clinic and ask them to explain in detail why they are refusing to accept it, if this is even a thing. Making them have to justify it often highlights a poorly though out decision and may get them to look at it again for you.

If they are referring you to a company and then not accepting the result then this is wasting NHS money and your time, not to mention the distress it is casusing.

If they stick to their line then ask for it all in writing and tell them you will get your solicitor in touch with them to discuss a malpractice case. This last threat should get them to take a long hard look and decide if they can afford to be so stubbornly stupind over this.

That is what I would do in your shoes anyway - I can't offer medical of legal advice obviously otherwise I would swell up like a balloon and pop. Allegedly.

I am in a similar situation, although haven’t quite waited 3 years yet. I spoke with the NHS Assessment Team and asked about the Right to Chose route. I was told that I would be accepted back to the NHS team for support after assessment if made that choice.

Although it’s possible that this can be decided locally. Definitely worth speaking to someone else - does your trust have a PALs department? It might be worth speaking with them so they can check the Trusts policy…

Could it be that the person you spoke to wasn’t knowledgeable about the situation regarding non NHS autism assessments? I know that most NHS authorities accept a private diagnosis if it is completed within NICE guidelines. Would it be worth contacting the NHS clinic again, and ask  to speak to someone else?