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Original poster

ADHD - assessment for children

21 replies

Maflingo · 11/01/2022 21:22

Do I need to speak to our GP for a referral or do I need go through the school? Or is it bit of both?!

It is impacting DD both educationally (not meeting age-based targets) but also emotionally, and she is very distressed.

Any advice appreciated, thank you!

OP posts:

asnippersdream · 11/01/2022 21:27

Not sure if it varies by area (or school) but I'm in a similar position and school have told me there's no chance at all of them doing an assessment and it has to go through the GP. I'm not sure if this is correct or school trying to get out of supporting my DS but that is what they said.

Original poster

Maflingo · 11/01/2022 21:29

Ah ok, thank you.

OP posts:

Indecisivelurcher · 11/01/2022 21:31

My sil is in this process for my nephew. They started with GP but have ended up having to go private.

Interested in this thread?

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SEN

Indecisivelurcher · 11/01/2022 21:31

They've had an Ed psych report from school.

GladysTheOstrich · 11/01/2022 21:33

Waiting list is 3 years in our area. I had DS1 assessed privately through psychiatry.co.uk, which was immediate, although I believe waiting lists are longer at the moment.

Original poster

Maflingo · 11/01/2022 21:35

Oh thank you both. We are lucky enough to be able to afford to go private if needed, but I wasn’t sure if we needed a GP or school referral initially?

OP posts:

Midgeymoo12 · 11/01/2022 21:35

We have had a good experience on the NHS. GP referred to community paediatrics - they initially rejected the referral because child was less than 6 years. They accepted the referral at age 6. We were initially sent some questionnaires to complete, as were the school. We attended clinic to see a paediatrician, and then had a QB test. Our child has been started on medication, which has really improved his behaviour :)

Florin · 11/01/2022 21:35

You need to get a doctors appointment. Then online forms get sent to you and school to fill in and if they think it is a possibility it is followed by a consultation (online at the moment which includes your child). Then a parenting advice sort of session for tips and to help with deciding if about medication. Well that is what happen in our area.

stealthninjamum · 11/01/2022 21:37

If you go private you don’t need a referral from either your school or GP although your school will need to fill in forms and support you. I know of a friend whose daughter took a few years to get an adhd diagnosis because their first school didn’t notice the lack of attention and just assumed the girl was quiet.

Original poster

Maflingo · 11/01/2022 21:40

Thank you everyone. Sounds like it varies by area (not unusual these days). I have already asked for a meeting with the school but will make a GP appointment also and see what they say.
Sounds like it could be a long road so better gets started!

OP posts:

TheFormidableMrsC · 12/01/2022 09:59

My son was already diagnosed with ASD. I went to our GP when the school flagged up issues and asked for a referral which I got fairly quickly. I would approach your GP and ask the school to back you up.

Beakerandbungle · 12/01/2022 10:19

Hi OP

My DS has finally got a diagnosis - in the end I did have to go privately as the wait was so long ( and the NHs lost him in the system). I’d start with the GP.

Just wanted to mention - and apologies if you already know this! - but your DD does not need a diagnosis to get extra support at school. Diagnosis will allow access to medication but she should already be being supported at school for her needs. Has she been assessed by an educational psychologist, SALT or OT and are school making any adjustments? If not then also start pushing school to get her on the wait list for assessment as in some ways getting adjustments will help almost as much as medication. Apologies if this is already in train ( and I know you just asked about diagnosis!).

Beakerandbungle · 12/01/2022 10:22

OP - sorry just seen you can go private. Tba there are also quite long wait lists atm for private assessments ( well in my area). I waited 6 months ( and got in slightly early via a cancellation). So worth getting on private lists even if also trying NHs route ( if that makes sense)

Midgeymoo12 · 12/01/2022 10:45

As others mentioned - you do not need a diagnosis to get extra support at school. If she is having difficulty and the school cannot meet her needs with current resource, ask them to start process of EHCP assessment and application alongside you seeking a medical assessment.

daisybrown37 · 12/01/2022 10:59

Those who go private - how does the medication work? Is it private prescriptions forever or can you get an NHS prescription?

Just working out the long term costs of going private.

Original poster

Maflingo · 12/01/2022 11:09

Thank you for all the new information :-)
School current have a support plan in place due to her not meeting their targets, but are being a bit slippery to pin down on any kind of formal assessment. Can’t even get a meeting with her teacher/inclusion manager at the moment but going to email the senco directly this week.
I will also try with the gp and potentially get on private waitlists as well to see what comes up first.
Thank you again, really appreciate the advice.

OP posts:

stealthninjamum · 12/01/2022 11:10

daisybrown I can only talk about autism but I was told by the private paedetrician that they would do the first prescription of melatonin to help her sleep and then the GP would take over with subsequent prescriptions.

daisybrown37 · 12/01/2022 11:16

@stealthninjamum

Thank you. I have now had a look at the Psychiatry website mentioned above and that seems suggest it would transfer over to the GP after a few months.

Might need melatonin for my eldest though (ASD). He has just started to struggle to go to sleep.

stealthninjamum · 12/01/2022 11:24

daisybrown I have been told anecdotally /on social media (so might not be true) that private paedetricians are quite keen to discharge you or get you off the books. So I read about someone that left it too late for medication and the paedetrician no longer felt able to prescribe it. I have no idea if it’s true but I’m going to ask for some melatonin (just in case). I’m still trying other ways of getting dd2 to sleep and see melatonin as a last resort but don’t want to lose the ability to have it without a fight!

yoshiblue · 12/01/2022 12:49

Agree with above that in depends by area. In our borough referrals are done via SENCO, but in other areas it would be GP.

We are going through filling in forms (this week actually!) and it gets triaged and in our area sent to CAMHS or Paediatrics. We've been told we'll get a QB test quite early, but the wait is with seeing a doctor. Also exploring private options too.

I agree with the PP said that in the meantime there is nothing stopping you getting support from your SENCO/teacher. We have a number of measures in place to support our DS and feel the school is doing everything they can on a day to day basis. The likely big change will come if we can try medication.

You are welcome to PM me if you wanted to know more about the interventions in place - he's age 8 BTW.

Santaisstilleatingmincepies · 12/01/2022 13:02

Self referral where we live not via GP or school ... School do need to fill in bits of the form though...

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