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Right to choose

Hergé

I had a frustrating conversation yesterday with my local NHS mental health clinic who did my initial ASD referral.

I got my assessment result through just before Christmas and it said that I was indeed autistic. I ended up going through the right to choose option as I'd been on the NHS waiting list for about 3 years with no apparent end in sight. I was calling to ask the clinic about any support or guidance that they offered to autistic people and what they said surprised me, apparently they don't recognise most autism diagnosis from most non-nhs providers. 

The person I spoke to seemed to imply that if I wanted a proper assessment and diagnosis I'd have to go back into the NHS waiting list (which is now 8 years ISH).

If you are assessed by a NHS approved provider. who uses the recognised diagnosis criteria you would think you'd end up with a valid excepted diagnosis. If this is actually the case, what is the actual point of having an assessment under right to choose.

Sorry, rant over.

Parents

  • 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 

  • in reply to Literal_Joe

    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.

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  • in reply to Literal_Joe

    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.

Children