How can I get a private assessment for ADHD?

[towicymru]

Does anyone know how I go about getting a private assessment for DS for ADHD? We seem to be getting nowhere fast on the NHS & I'm finding it harder and harder. DS's teacher has said she will support us in any way but no paperwork has been sent to the school yet (despite first going to GP a year ago & Barnardos confirming he needs to be seen by CAMHS as it's not a parenting issue).

I'm not worried about a statement (at this stage!) but want to have ADHD either ruled in or out so that we can access some support/help/treatment!

Also - any ideas on cost as I still need to convince DH to go private.

[MadameSin]

Hi. You need to insist your GP refers you to a developmental paediatrician for a full assessment. My son was dx by NHS aged 7, now almost 11. We went on to have a private assessment for anything else that may have been lurking … came out with dyslexic dx too. That cost us £750. I would be careful with a private medical dx, as schools may not accept it. If your GP won't refer, get another one to!!

[towicymru]

Thanks. Will try and see GP. Life shouldn't be this hard - I just want to help my DS! Just feels like I'm banging my head against a wall and while all this is going on DS is falling behind at school because he can't concentrate for long enough or is easily distracted!

[towicymru]

Have chased CAMHS - they haven't received the referral from Barnardos yet so DS is not even on the list yet! Have booked an appointment to see GP but earliest appointment I could get was in 2 weeks time.

GP that saw us before and agreed DS needed to be assessed has now retired so will need to go through everything again with the GP we see in a few weeks time. Hopefully the GP we see will give us a private referral...

[TwoLeftSocks]

I've no idea about going through a private assessment route but our DS's appt with the NHS developmental peadiatrician came through reasonably quickly once the GP agreed to refer him. They might be able to give you some sort of timeframe when you see them in two weeks, possibly.

[towicymru]

I hope you are right Two but I have a feeling we won't be so lucky as CAMHS seem to be over stretched here - our GP initially referred us to CAMHS, they said DS didn't need assesing, GP wrote back and said he does, CAMHS referred us to Barnardos to see if it was parenting issues, Barnardos have now said it's not parenting & referred us back to CAMHS, CAMHS have said they haven't got the referral. Barnardos told us that if they felt that it wasn't a parenting issue then CAMHS would take the referral more seriously as it was more likely behavioural.

It feels like they are trying to make it so hard that we give up. I first went to the GP a year ago and we are still no further forward!!

Have been trying to google private developmental paediatrician for our area and not having much luck but am hoping GP will be able to help in a couple of weeks...

[TwoLeftSocks]

Crikey, you've really been passed from pillar to post! Hopefully the GP will be able to help, might even know a bit about private assessments, I really don't know how much they can or can't help with that.

Will the GP have a copy of the referral from Barnardos? Would it be worth checking in advance just in case that saves you from any further delays?

[towicymru]

Aaa argh! GP won't give us a private referral - said to stick with NHS & they will write to CAMHS again! Contacted an educational psychologist who said only a medic can diagnose ADHD.

GP took a copy of the Barnardo's letter to send with their letter. I've left several messages for the person we saw at Barnardo's but they haven't called back yet.

Almost a year on and we are not even on a waiting list yet. I want to cry .

Anyone got any ideas?

[TOWIE2014]

I went private - I totally cut out GP and found a Child and adolescent psychiatrist via my solicitor. I have no idea if you can go straight to him because he was recommended by my solicitor.

He was fab - but very very expensive as I needed an assessment & report for Tribunal

This is his bupa page

finder.bupa.co.uk/Consultant/view/29006

[towicymru]

Thanks Towie. Unfortunately he is too far away from us. Have tried googling private child psychiatrist but not coming up with anything in South Wales.

Why is this such hard work?

[sweetteamum]

I've heard a lot of people on Facebook groups talk about a Jo jones from Stratford. She is a Paediatrician. Her details are www.healthcare4kids.co.uk

Not sure if she's any good for ADHD but maybe she's worth contacting?

[towicymru]

Thanks Sweet. I will send her an email & see if she can help/recommend someone closer to us.

[streakybacon]

I found my son's private child psychiatrist by attending a local ADHD support group. One of their supporters was a paediatrician who worked with an NHS consultant who took private patients and she gave me contact details to set up the appointments myself. It might be worth asking around for support groups in your area who might know of private psychiatrists who could take on your case.

NHS psych service were rubbish for us. If we'd stayed with them ds would never have got his ADHD dx.

[towicymru]

Thanks Streaky. Will try that approach.

Just spoken to Barnardos. They said they have sent the referral but will send it again. Called CAMHS - not yet received the referral (or letter from my GP). I asked about the waiting list and was told that it is 10 months if he gets accepted onto the waiting list. The year we have been waiting already doesn't count!!! At this rate we'll be getting transferred onto the adults list before we get seen!

Am going to get on with googling some work now.

[streakybacon]

Can you get a copy of the Barnardo's letter and hand deliver it to CAMHS? It would eliminate the excuse of not having received it.

[Snowballz]

We just went to a private educational psychologist who was recommended. She met us twice, didn't meet my ds at all. Spoke to school on phone and diagnosed parenting issues. So we are back to square one. School don't think it's parenting.. ..they are surprised and annoyed they are no nearer support so now finally seeking help through them.

Not sure private is best tbh!

[BlankTimes]

We just went to a private educational psychologist who was recommended. She met us twice, didn't meet my ds at all

This thread is from 2014 @Snowballz, so you may want to start a new one - but I'm appalled that an Ed Psych could say that without even seeing your child. I'd be having words about that to their regulatory body.

[MartaF]

I don't know if this is the same for children with ADHD, but I saw a private psychiatrist for an ADHD assessment as an adult and it was SUCH a different experience from the NHS.

My GP told me it could be over a year for a psychiatrist referral and that they tend to only prescribe whichever medication is cheapest.
I'm with Bupa but annoyingly they didn't cover ADHD.

I bit the bullet and went private (I saw www.psymplicity.com/psychiatrist/dr-liam-parsonage who was lovely).
£700 which is a bit ridiculous but what a difference! Appointment the same week, diagnosis and prescription on the spot, discussed the benefits of each medication with me before choosing one that suited me best.

I love the NHS, but they have A LOT of work to do with mental health care before it's even acceptable.

[Shybutnotretiring]

As someone whose son and daughter got medikinet straight up on the NHS I'm curious, what prescription did you get?

[TCNorfolk]

This compnay can help you in Norfolk & Sufflok. Helped a colleague of mine who had been waitin 2 years for Norfolk Educational area to organsie her daughter's assessment, so I recommened them. Report done in a few weeks & I think it cost about £250. www.pi-ea.co.uk/. Worth a try

[KisstheTeapot14]

GP should refer to paediatrician not CAMhS very overstretched. We got one recently for same issue, fairly quickly.

Ours came on back of ed psych assessment for possible dyslexia and others at school. She sent her report to our paed.

Still haven't got dyslexia diagnosis though - going round in circles with school and its making me feel demented. Mayhave to pay privately through PATOSS or BDA for this.

Good lord, its an exhasperating game isn't it?

[DaddyJohn1964]

IF you are in the Norfolk area, there is a psychiatrist who works at the Spire Hospital who assessed our daughter for ASD and also confirmed that she has ADHD at the same time. I can not remember his surname but his first name is Steve.
Sorry to be vague but it was a few years ago now!

Good Luck

[drspouse]

We had a private diagnosis, some notes:
It is a psychiatrist that diagnoses ADHD rather than a paediatrician (at least, it was for us). A psychologist cannot diagnose and cannot prescribe.
We just googled for child psychiatry services or private ADHD diagnosis, and some of the BUPA hospitals have someone that will do this, it's not always clear on their web pages what they will do so it might be necessary to ring round.
Our GP has told us when he's been stable for 3 months on a medication we can switch to GP prescribing but we aren't there yet.