Private psychological assessment

[sundownflump]

If money was not a problem, where could you go in the uk to get privately psychologically assessed?

[RonaldMcDonald]

Depends. What is it relating to?

[ElizabethHoney]

Try the Priory?

[ninenicknames]

Interested

[ImNotReallyReal]

Having exhausted 100k on my medical insurance I think I could write a book. I've been to The Priory and the Nightingales as IP. I personally don't rate The Priory, but that's my own opinion. TBH I was IP with NHS patients in both places, why pay?

What's the problem? I've seen a couple of good psychiatrists and some good psychologists. Some crap ones as well. The good ones I paid for outside of my insurance.

What are you looking to deal with? What do you want from it? It would be easier to advise if you could be more specific

[sundownflump]

i think i am bipolar but I really have no faith in the NHS to treat me and I feel that work would use it against me if it was n my official medical record. My DH is open to me going private to find out.

[ElizabethHoney]

If in Surrey I'd also recommend Via Clinic, but that's not much help if you're in Inverness...

[LittlePurplePig]

How would work use it against you? I'm wondering similar, I have private health insurance through work and wonder if my employer is then privy to any information about my use of the insurance seeing as they pay for it.

I'm not sure if seeing HCPs privately keeps anything from 'official' medical history anyway. When I've been seen privately for anything I've had to get a GP referral first.

A ex-colleague of mine has severe mental health problems, and work did ask for her medical history, but she had to consent to it.

[ImNotReallyReal]

PPCS on Devonshire Place (London) are good for assessments. You'd probably need to see the psychiatrist a few times to get a full picture and meds sorted if you are bipolar.

The cost when I last used them (2014) was £500 an hour. I think I went 8 times over the course of a year, as well as seeing a therapist weekly. Once I was stable my meds regime was passed to my GP and I see my therapist monthly now just to keep me on track (I pay for her out of my own money as I wanted to chose my own and privately you tend not to be able to chose).

When I have used my work insurance for MH issues I had to be referred by my GP. However you can just refer yourself privately.

Work did not use it against me, they didn't get involved at all. I dealt with Occupational Health who simply provided work with a statement that I was not fit for work and then later advised them on a phased return. They gave me an option on how much to disclose, I was described as having 'depression and anxiety' to work, which was what I was suffering. My bipolar was not mentioned.

I am bipolar I, I do not declare it. That is my own personal choice. If I felt that I needed to declare it I would. If declared I believe you are covered by the disabilities act, which protects you. It really is up to you to decide what information you disclose.

Wishing you all the best.

[LittlePurplePig]

£500 an hour? Wowza. My private
insurance has £1k/year coverage for outpatient treatment. I don't know if there's a seperate amount specifically for mental health care though. Still doesn't sound like it would go very far.

[AnxiousCarer]

Your medical records are confidential regardless if it is nhs or private they can't be disclosed without your consent, even you have to apply to the nhs trust to read them! You're employer will only know about any diagnosis if you choose to disclose it. If you do disclose then you are covered by the disability discrimination Act, if you don't disclose and then go off sick due to it then I think it could be grounds for dismissal regardless of where your diagnosis came from. Would be worth checking. My Occupational health are really good and are providing councelling and psychology for me for PTSD. My DHs occi health has been very good with his MH too, reccomending flexible working to allow for CPN appointments.