Is it easy to get a GP to refer a child for autism assessment?

[SpinningTops]

I have an appointment about DS but trying to prepare for whether I need to fight them to refer or whether they will happily refer.

He started school this year and his anxiety is getting worse and is now getting very fixed in his routines.

School say he's not struggling at all and other than using a visual timetable with him they have no concerns.

Will the GP want to see him personally?

In our area referrals for assessment can be made by professionals eg school/GP/SW or by parent/carer. Very long waits for assessment though.

I do think we will struggle with a referral hearing all this.

His difficulties currently aren't too bad but I think by the time we reached the top of the waiting list in 2-3 years they would be. Hence wanting to get on that list.

But sounds like you almost need to be in crisis to get on the top of the list.

Currently we have meltdowns in shops so we avoid shops at all costs.
Need to know what's happening by the minute.

Upset with unexpected changes
Overly formal speech
Perfectionism
School refusal but fine once we've forced him in (kicking and screaming)
Gets fixated on minor things he will then obsess about.

But all these are manageable currently. Perhaps not when he's 8 ....

no, i would start now op
speak to senco
outlay your concerns,
dont wait.
no doubt the waiting list is years and the sooner you can get this sorted the better

you are managing this but need support op

I'm in North Yorkshire and you can self-refer to CAMHS.

You can ask a GP for a referral and ask for who to refer to. Look up right to choose autism assessments. I’ve just done it for an adhd assessment and the wait time is 12 weeks instead of 2 years.
There are a list of providers approved by the nhs who you can ask to be referred to. You just need to do a screening questionnaire completed by you and school and discuss with GP. If they agree with your worries about possible autism then they can refer you.
Good luck, it’s a long and frustrating process and I hope you get the help you need

https://www.clinical-partners.co.uk/nhs-services/right-to-choose

More information here, we went with clinical partners but there are other providers if you’re in England.
I don’t think the right to choose is well known, we were on the waiting list for a peadiatrician for over a year with at least another year wait, then someone told us about this. I made an appointment with my GP and he referred the same day and assessment will be done within 12 weeks.

Little update - the GP was happy to refer to CAHMs for multidisciplinary assessment.

Long wait ahead but at least we'll end up on the list.

This. GPs tend to wash their hands of it once they reach school age. They usually feel it's the schools domain.

We’ve just been through this process. School SENCO writes the referral with their evidence and findings. You then go into a waitlist - we waited 18 months. Going private will speed it up but then often isn’t accepted by the school or the local authority so can be a bit pointless if you need to Apple for an EHCP.
The initial appointment (after 18 months) is with a pediatrician and takes a full history. If ASD is suspected you are referred on to another lengthy waitlist as more than one professional opinion is needed to diagnose. We were seen yesterday for our first appointment and expect to wait around a year for the next.
do not start this process without understanding what you are asking for and being sure you have suspicions of a neurological diversity as it’s a heartbreakingly long process with little help along the way. Whatever you choose, good luck.

CAHMS cannot diagnose ASD. They are mental health support. The wait is generally 2 years at present in SE and first help from them are generally 13 week parenting courses. Pediatrician appointments for ASD go from school SENCO.

This all varies by area, in my experience.

CAHMS cannot diagnose ASD

That depends on where you live. In some areas it is CAMHS who assess.

Going private will speed it up but then often isn’t accepted by the school or the local authority so can be a bit pointless if you need to Apple for an EHCP.

LAs and schools cannot lawfully have a policy of refusing to accept independent assessments and diagnoses purely because they are independent and SENDIST definitely considers all evidence.

I highlighted my gp with the red flags on 3rd May, they expedited it to get an assessment done by 16th October once auditory checks were done.

Others have tried multiple routes but I got the fastest assessment at 2 yrs old .

Though to be confirmed by age 3 as she's young

Different areas have different pathways. Saying what can and can not work doesn’t help (although neither does the lack of consistency)

ds was diagnosed with autism via CAMHs. His adhd diagnosis came via community peads (but only because I paid for a private QB test)

It varies from area to area. Where we live you talk to the school first. Then you go on a waiting list to talk to someone who spends 4 days a week with the children and 1 day doing admin and covering people who are off sick. Then after a few months this person contacts you and gives you a load of forms. They do forms as well and 6ish months later the referral goes off to the hospital. After 5 months someone at the hospital will decide if the referral will be accepted. Then if it is there is a 2 year wait to see a paediatrician. Then the paediatrician asks for bloods and a hearing test, referral to speech and language and an autism or adhd assessment. Which usually takes another 6 months.

This is exactly what my 8yo is like! School said that they had no concerns about him at all. We were obviously pleased but disheartened that it is only happening at home where no one else is seeing this but us

Even if gp has referred to CAHMS you can still then ask them make a referral via right ti choose, then not use CAHMS referral

We just went through this with DD.

You need something from the school with anything they've noticed, we also took a questionnaire DD found online on an ASD website and a list of things I had concerns about.

GP was fine, asked a few questions and referred her on,

3 months later she has just had an initial assessment, they confirmed there is enough to investigate and so she is on the 2 year waiting list for an actual assessment.

I think it varies depending on area.
I was told by a professional in my local team that most GP referrals are declined because the referral forms need information that a GP wouldn’t have enough detail to complete, so I made sure the school also did a referral for DC1. I have concerns about DC2 too, but I know I won’t get anywhere with a referral for her because she presents as absolutely fine in school (as did DC1 at that age).

I don't know about children but I asked my GP to refer me for autism assessment and I certainly didn't have to fight. I ended up going private though because the wait was so long.