Does anyone in the UK have advice for an NHS diagnosis

Post Reply New Topic

I'm not sure what area you are in.
I was assessed by a psychiatrist who referred me to the Sheffield Aspergers centre. I was told there was no funding for an assessment. I complained to my health authority. My GP applied a 2nd time for funding and I was assessed recently. This whole thing has taken most of a year but I was successful in the end.
I think he applied on the basis that I tried lots of treatments at the GP and in mental health services for a large number of years without any success-this does have a financial implication for them.

I found a disability advocate as convinced it is not right that if you need an assessment you can be refused. Particularly as I was not offered any other help. I complained to my health authority although found this does not necessarily result in treatment, but makes a point officially that there are people being refused treatment.

I would phone the NAS for advice, they have been very helpful. Like someone said the Sheffield centre can take referrals from within a certain distance, it may be worth asking them if they would take a referral from your area-I know they take referrals from outside Sheffield

Would it be possible for you to PM me the details of who you saw in Croydon? That's very near to where I live and I'm looking around for someone to diagnose me privately since I've reached the end of the road with the NHS.

I live just outside Croydon, Surrey. There was a crisis, NHS doesn't do ASD diagnosis, blah, blah, so my friend pushed the primary care trust for funding for a diagnosis. They dragged their heels.

When I finally got the funding, a lead adult psych told me that I didn't have ASD, but would give me a test anyhow. What he didn't say was that it meant that he would get my diagnosis funds (which is what he was after). This would have left me with no diagnosis, and no funds.

My friend advised me to say no. I then went to the Maudsley (near Brixton). They're a PROPER mental place, with a reputation so that a diagnosis from them is respected, and not pooh-poohed.
They stopped the test midway through. I am VERY aspie. Diagnosed at 39.

Thanks for advice everyone, yeah I have already spoken to my GP and was told to await a referral to see a psychiatrist, after a week the letter came but rather than detailing an appointment as I was expecting it said that there was no funding in the area and I should go to a private clinic in Sheffield instead. I'm not going to pay privately so the next step is seeing where the nearest place is that I can get a diagnosis whilst also getting NHS funding. Hopefully the NAS can point me in the right direction though I've been busy lately and not spoken to them just yet. Thanks for your advice so far, it has helped as now I know to speak to the NAS about this rather than my GP which was no help at all, maybe get a new GP who will help with this kind of thing, also complaining to the health authority, good to know I will bear that in mind as well.

I will update with how it goes in case anyone is interested and maybe it will help people in the same position to see

I saw my GP in February, and just found out last week that my request had been turned down due to lack of funding, they didn't even write. A different GP looked it up for me when I was in asthma clinic at my request. My Asthma GP said he would resend the request if I would write a letter for the decision panel, I have now done this, but I have also given in and booked a private assessment for ADOS with a lady that NAS recommended as the GP said it wont be a quick.

I am paying £600 for the assessment and I can't really afford it, it will go on the credit card, but I am desperate for people to believe me as I keep getting in trouble at work, and my family do not believe I am autistic.

I don't understand why the NHS believe there is no need for adult diagnosis, I was told that their opinion is if you have coped this long its unnecessary, I would like to know what how they define "cope"

I know there is a way to appeal a decision not to fund through the NHS, but I have no idea how to go about it.

Good luck.