Can I dispute NHS?

[Soubriquet]

We took ds to the doctor a few months ago with the possibility of him being SEN. Likely ADHD.

The school agreed and it the referral was sent off via the SEN teacher in school.

I received a letter yesterday telling me that with the information they have, they do not agree and will not be proceeding with the referral.

I sincerely believe he needs that little bit of help. He is now receiving it in class since I brought it up, and it has helped massively! His hand writing has improved because he is given longer time to write. He doesn’t meltdown as much because he is given the time to explain. He is not as distracted or fidgety in class because he is allowed a small fidget toy to occupy his mind.

He is 9, almost 10 and I really feel I need to push this, because whilst primary school is accepting it without an official diagnosis, his secondary school may not, and we could end up back to stage one where he is extremely sensitive

Does he have an EHCP?

Was the referral to CAMHS?

We are still on an nhs waiting list 3 yrs later….in that time we paid privately for an educational psychologist, private psychiatrist to confirm diagnosis and to start meds and now on shared care with the GP but still obviously needing private appointments for oversight. There are many areas where they have simply stopped the clock on nhs adhd assessments as they became overwhelmed. As parents you may need to make the choice as to which route you are able to go down…with adhd unless you are intending to medicate ,it’s a bit pointless paying privately , but for NHS you will need to be very clear about what symptoms he is showing and the challenges he is facing because of these. If it’s only a little bit of help that he needs, that you can negotiate with school anyway, you may not meet the threshold for nhs services.

Yes he has an ECHP with the SEN teacher in school. We are currently looking at CAMHS and children’s anxiety therapy which was suggested by the SEN teacher

@Soubriquet do you have private healthcare? We had our DS autism assessment paid for by our AXA cover using a psychologist recommended by school.

Meant a diagnosis in 3 weeks instead of the 12months we would have been on the cahms list.

No. We couldn’t afford private anyway. I’m on disability benefits and dh is the only one bringing home a full wage

Have a look into right to choose

Have a look at right to choose. However, I'd also check with them why it was rejected. My DD's referral was rejected due to the GP filling out the wrong form, they sent a letter saying lack of evidence. GP at least was on the ball, thought otherwise, investigated and referred us back. Thought it might be a one off but a couple of years later another child in the family (and different area of country) had one sent from the school rejected. Again letter saying lack of evidence but actually on the wrong form. Both times the second referral was accepted after the correct form was used and they have both received a diagnosis.

Do you intend to medicate him? If not, agree with a pp that there is not much point getting a diagnosis, especially if there is already EHCP in place, he’s coping at school and no further adjustments are necessary. My DS was struggling so much we had to go private for an assessment, but we now struggle to get him to take the meds so it wasn’t really worth it!

Oh he already has an ehcp? If he has a ehcp,why don’t you think that the secondary school will be able to provide him with support similar to what the primary have been giving? So you must already have been able to evidence that he has significant,specific needs…up til now, have you and the school been approaching him as someone with a generic learning disability? If you think he has adhd, as pp said, if you choose to submit again and be very specific as to what signs and symptoms you think are leading to the need for an ADHD diagnosis. Did you and the school already submit a Conners form?

So the Doctor doesn't think he meets the criteria for referral for ADHD. So either the Dr has misunderstood the situation so you can go back and re explain, or Dr has made a mistake in which case go back and ask about it. Or alternatively the Dr is right and your DC doesn't actually have SEN but does benefit from some extra support, which school are giving?
I'd just make an appointment with GP and ask them to explain their reasoning and you can either agree or disagree and present some further facts/examples

Got it.
I would challenge the GP. absolutely.

Get in there now with right to choose before the government restricts access.

adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/

Follow it up and add more evidence and insist there is enough info to substantiate a referral.

What additional help do you feel that a diagnosis of ADHD would attract? You’ve said that the support he’s getting in school has made a positive difference to his capacity to focus and to make progress and that support comes from the provision on his EHCP I imagine.

At school, additional support is on the basis of need, not diagnosis and what’s important for secondary school is that the support and provision that helps him as it now does, is very specific in his EHCP, so that he gets that support from Year 7 onwards. The next annual review of the EHCP will be important in ensuring that the right type of support continues. Have you had thoughts about the secondary school you want for him, because, unless it’s wholly private, DS must be offered a place, unless it’s incompatible with efficient education or can’t meet his needs.

There’s nothing to stop you from trying to get a diagnosis. It depends on what extra difference you feel it would make.

If DS has an EHCP, therapies can be included in there. This has the benefit of the support not being limited to what CAMHS can or will offer.

If he has an echp already why are you not just pushing for the support he's entitled to, or more support. You've already got the ehcp, which is a major hurdle.