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Original poster

WTF ADHD assessment

38 replies

pastatriangles · 02/08/2023 10:41

I just had an ADHD video assessment and am a bit freaked out.

It started off normally and I was talking about typical disorganisation and forgetfulness. I had my 6mo baby on my lap and the doctor suddenly cuts in and says, 'Can you attend to your baby. She's distressed and it's making me very distressed watching it.'

She had spit up a small bit on her chin but hadn't cried and was perfectly fine. I cleaned it off and the doctor told me to feed her and that she was hungry. I explained I had just given her a bottle before the appointment. She wasn't crying, wiggling or anything, just sat calmly on my lap.

Doctor then said she was worried baby wasn't safe and whether I had SS involvement. I assured her my baby was absolutely safe and had never had involvement.

At the end of the session she said 'I have decided to give you the ADHD diagnosis but I think we can agree there is more than just that going on here. I've booked another appointment to discuss next steps for more support.'

I was too confused/shocked to ask what she meant, plus she seemed like she had quite an odd attitude, like she was enjoying telling me this, so I just wanted to get off the call.

I'm really confused and freaked out now. Is she calling SS on me? I said nothing that would allude to child endangerment, just stuff like disorganisation at work and school. I take baby to play group almost every day, she's happy and fed, and we see family often. Have no idea what's going on.

OP posts:
Layzees · 02/08/2023 17:44

This why video calls are shit in the first place and I'm sick of the NHS pushing for them. Clinicians need to see people in person.

firestarter2023 · 02/08/2023 18:25

Is there any chance you checked out for a few moments focused on the appointment and didn't notice/engage with what might have been happening?

toastandmarmaladeandtea · 02/08/2023 18:30

Dreamersdontdie · 02/08/2023 11:11

Why the hell would they assess someone so soon after having a baby? That's not going to give you an accurate diagnosis, due to hormonal balance and sleep deprivation. I wouldn't trust the clinician based on that alone.

Adhd diagnosis is a racket

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RoyalImpatience · 02/08/2023 18:31

Bizzare and she sounds like a bitch.

She shouldn't be giving her perosnal emotion views on how distress she feels with baby having some spit!

Justmyviews · 02/08/2023 18:34

How old is your baby?

toastandmarmaladeandtea · 02/08/2023 18:35

It sounds as though she may have been struggling to conduct the assessment with the distraction of a baby being present and perhaps projecting that into you.

toastandmarmaladeandtea · 02/08/2023 18:37

Justmyviews · 02/08/2023 18:34

How old is your baby?

6 months

Didiplanthis · 02/08/2023 18:38

That sounds a crap assessment but I agree it's not appropriate to have a baby in the consultation. My private diagnosis was face to face with a psychiatrist, over 3 appointments, one involving a second ADHD OT therapist to do a secondary assessment... I wouldn't use psychiatry uk or ADHD360.. as I don't trust their assessments which often don't meet basic assessment criteria...

watcherintherye · 02/08/2023 18:48

pastatriangles · 02/08/2023 15:55

@Nanna50 I was diagnosed on the call. Referred from my GP. Reluctant to ask for a re-referral as it's such a long waiting list and I've been waiting ages.

It just made me feel like a shit mum and a failure tbh. Really down. All I've ever had is people reassuring me that being messy/disorganised doesn't make me a bad person or parent and then when I was actually trying to be really honest about my difficulties I feel like it's been thrown back in my face. (And honestly to reiterate nothing child endangering, just stupid mistakes, messy house kind of thing).

You’re definitely not a shit Mum, op. More like you were being assessed by a shit psychiatrist. I clearly remember my health visitor 29 years ago, when I was floundering a bit with the housework and ds1, reassuring me that it was the perfect, tidy houses which led her to worry, not the messy, chaotic ones. She reckoned if the house was untidy, you were concentrating on the baby!

MrsAmaretto · 02/08/2023 19:12

Personally I’d go onto the Care Opinion website and make a complaint. If the appointment was not suitable for you to attend with a child this should have been made clear before when you got the appointment or when she first saw you with baby. One of the advantages of video appointments is that people with caring responsibilities can attend without having to get respite/ babysitter.

I had a lengthy remote genetic appointment and the letter was very clear that it was not suitable to bring children to.

During covid it was made clear pregnant women should take other children to face to face appointments. If you are a clinician expecting patients to have other people looking after their caring responsibilities you need to make this clear.

Aquaphant · 02/08/2023 22:25

Bit tired of the trend of slagging off private ADHD diagnoses.

I was diagnosed via Psychiatry UK and it wasn't just a quick video call where they said "congrats, you have ADHD , here's some pills!" They took a detailed history from me, my mum and my husband and the assessment appointment was two hours long. The psychiatrist then provided a report a week or so later giving the diagnosis and explained how he came to that conclusion. I was previously diagnosed (in person) in my home country and that assessment was less thorough.

Original poster
pastatriangles · 03/08/2023 08:35

Aquaphant · 02/08/2023 22:25

Bit tired of the trend of slagging off private ADHD diagnoses.

I was diagnosed via Psychiatry UK and it wasn't just a quick video call where they said "congrats, you have ADHD , here's some pills!" They took a detailed history from me, my mum and my husband and the assessment appointment was two hours long. The psychiatrist then provided a report a week or so later giving the diagnosis and explained how he came to that conclusion. I was previously diagnosed (in person) in my home country and that assessment was less thorough.

It's a private org but I was referred on the NHS by my GP, so not sure why people are saying it's not legitimate either. Makes no sense to be referred and then told it's not legitimate by the body that referred you??

Also not sure why someone said it's jumping the queue which implies cheating in some way, when I was openly given the option of video call or an in person interview which can take 4 years... The whole thing is weird. I just want to get help and this is yet more added stress.

OP posts:
Sometimeswinning · 03/08/2023 12:50

At the end of the session she said 'I have decided to give you the ADHD diagnosis but I think we can agree there is more than just that going on here. I've booked another appointment to discuss next steps for more support.'

This not how a professional chats goes. The NHS needs to cut down their waiting list and this is the option they have. I'd love you to come back and let people know what further support you will be offered!

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