Diagnosis Private or NHS.

Hi, I was diagnosed privately as I was moving countries too much to ever make it to the end of the waiting list. My diagnosis is fully recognised by the NHS. I think like Martin has pointed out it depends on who does the private diagnosis. I was diagnosed via Sara Heath- She does a prediagnostic assessment and if she thinks you are autistic, you can see a consultant psychiatrist who also works for NHS and has done NHS autism assessments. He will then do an assessment using Sara’s report as a basis. https://www.shropshireautonomy.co.uk/autonomyplus/pre-diagnostic
I had a good experience and it was recognised by my GP.

I'm 69 and i think it's only the last 15yrs that i started to think i was autistic. I read about lhe long waits on the Nhs, and the fairly high cost of going private. I've only recently got a new Gp, and he's the first person to take any interest.  He asked would i like to go the waiting, but i said...... was it worth it at my age, i could probably be able to afford a private assessment, but ........ was it worth it at my age. If only i got was a piece of paper telling me what i already know.  It's not even as if i could go into the Dhss and say to them, will you add an extra £10pw to my pension, 'cos i'm autistic.

I'm 69 and i think it's only the last 15yrs that i started to think i was autistic. I read about lhe long waits on the Nhs, and the fairly high cost of going private. I've only recently got a new Gp, and he's the first person to take any interest.  He asked would i like to go the waiting, but i said...... was it worth it at my age, i could probably be able to afford a private assessment, but ........ was it worth it at my age. If only i got was a piece of paper telling me what i already know.  It's not even as if i could go into the Dhss and say to them, will you add an extra £10pw to my pension, 'cos i'm autistic.

For me it was really important to know and have external validation that I am indeed autistic... in part as I had been diagnosed with lots of other things that didn't really seem to fit and I was/am struggling. It really helped me to understand myself better and to be more accepting. I also thought it might be useful if I ever ran into issues at work. 

But I can understand that a diagnosis is not right for everyone and it really depends on the circumstances and what you want- When I realised that I was autistic, my mum and I realised that she is most probably also autistic- but she has no interest at all in getting a diagnosis. Her take on it was 'well, I've always known that I am different/an alien. It doesn't matter to me what it is called' . She's accepted herself the way she is, has finally found a job that she is comfortable in (self employed and working from home) so for her there is no need...