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Your experience of getting a diagnosis

Ramblingrose

Hello

I’m new to the forums and just wondered about the assessment route everyone’s gone through.  I’m aged 64 and struggled for most of my life with health issues relating to work stress, anxiety, fatigue and digestive problems.  After watching Susan Hendrickx video presentation and doing the AQ50 and scoring highly, I realised that I am very likely autistic.  I spoke to my GP who sent me more tests and agreed that the source of my health problems is very likely to be this due to my high scores. I am also reading Susan Hendrickx book for Women with Autism and I’ve had so many lightbulb moments I’m sure this is the case!

I am now on the NHS waiting list for formal assessment and diagnosis however in this part of the world the waiting time is 4 years.  I was told by my GP that to get privately assessed it would be a fee of £1500 approximately…I just wondered how members of this forum were diagnosed? How long did you wait if it was NHS and if you had a private clinical assessment a ballpark figure of the fee’s.  I’m not really sure which way go but a 4 year wait seems an incredibly long time for an appointment.  Any feedback on experiences of the system would be much appreciated. Many thanks. 

Parents

  • Hi RamblingRose 

    Second attempt at trying to reply as my previous reply seems to have drifted away into the ether!

    I'm 62 and recently officially diagnosed. I considered myself self diagnosed autistic for around a year but the constant imposter syndrome was starting to get annoying and I needed to be sure I wasn't mistaken. 

    I didn't go down the NHS route as I wasn't convinced that my GP would be sympathetic. I was expecting a private diagnosis to cost a minimum of £1000 and maybe as high as £3000 which was more than I could comfortably afford right now 

    I hope I'm allowed to name names here - Somebody on the forums recommended Sara Heath at Autonomy Plus. (She is listed in the on site directory) She conducts the pre diagnosis assesment (over Skype in my case as I'm too far away for an in person meeting) and if you meet the criteria for diagnosis she books you a private appointment with Dr P who gives you your official diagnosis.  It took about 6 weeks to get my appointment with Sara and a further 2 weeks for my appointment with Dr P.   The cost varies depending on how long the assessment takes - but it was well under £1000 

    Netty

  • in reply to Inula

    Hi Netty

    Thank you for all of this information - it's really helpful and it sounds like this is another potential option, I have to admit that cost was one of the factors that made me hesitate about going down the private route but this sounds more reasonable . One question - when you say Dr P gives an official diagnosis is it one that is accepted by the NHS as official? I'll have a look at Sarah Heath's details and go from there.  Thanks again.

    Rose

  • in reply to Ramblingrose

    Hi Rose

    Dr P is a consultant psychiatrist at Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust and Telford Autism Services. He doesn't advertise his private services but takes referrals from Sara Heath. Because of his credentials I see no reason why my GP won't accept his diagnosis. He sent both myself and my GP a letter confirming my diagnosis. In it he states that his private assessments are as rigorous as his NHS assessments. I've not checked my GP records yet to confirm my diagnosis has been placed on my record but I fully expect it to be accepted.

    Netty

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  • in reply to Ramblingrose

    Hi Rose

    Dr P is a consultant psychiatrist at Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust and Telford Autism Services. He doesn't advertise his private services but takes referrals from Sara Heath. Because of his credentials I see no reason why my GP won't accept his diagnosis. He sent both myself and my GP a letter confirming my diagnosis. In it he states that his private assessments are as rigorous as his NHS assessments. I've not checked my GP records yet to confirm my diagnosis has been placed on my record but I fully expect it to be accepted.

    Netty

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