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AIBU?

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Original poster

Capping the number of children diagnosed with autism

190 replies

roundtable · 27/05/2017 08:37

Did I just hear that correctly on the news? The couple of sentences that they gave about it before moving on.

I'm hoping I've misunderstood but wtf?

That is not reasonable.

So once we've limited the amount of people with autism, what group of people do they move onto next?

Did I hear it correctly and are they being completely unreasonable? Without a doubt

OP posts:
LuluLovesFruitcakes · 27/05/2017 08:38

Wtf Confused

user1491572121 · 27/05/2017 08:39

As I understand it, there is talk of stopping diagnosing DC in Merton with Autism.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/2937880-NHS-could-stop-diagnosing-child-autism-in-Merton

Georgieporgiepuddinandpie · 27/05/2017 08:39

How does that work then? What happens when the quota is full Confused

user1491572121 · 27/05/2017 08:39

And it's a terrible, terrible idea.

ProudAS · 27/05/2017 08:40

I really hope you misunderstood.

Undiagnosed autism is not something I would wish on anyone.

LakieLady · 27/05/2017 08:42

it's the most ludicrous thing I've heard in a long time. You don't make something go away by pretending it doesn't exist.

If they get away with this, where will they stop?

Original poster
roundtable · 27/05/2017 08:45

I'm actually shocked by how briefly it was mentioned on the BBC. I thought I'd misheard.

OP posts:
Branleuse · 27/05/2017 08:48

This is absolutely terrible news for so many children. Its already hard enough to access diagnosis

imip · 27/05/2017 08:53

Yes, from what I hear it's true. More in depth article in the news and it's been mentioned in SN boards. will diagnose if there is another condition e.g. Depression.

Of course, if it's not diagnosed in the first instance, there probably will be mental health issues in the future from undiagnosed autism. So ducking misguided and parents bear the brunt of it!

Witchend · 27/05/2017 08:54

I think they should cap the number with cancer too. I mean it' s a horrible disease and no one wants to hear they've got it so we'd really be doing them a favour wouldn't we? And it's a big drain on the NHS resources so it'd save money. Hmm

OregonShales · 27/05/2017 08:56

You either have a diagnosis on the spectrum or you don't. There's no inbetween.

They wouldn't say to someone who has cancer "well you do have all the symptoms for a diagnosis but we've filled our quota, so actually, you don't have it.

(I know they are not the same, just highlighting the ridiculousness)

I suspect the next group will be anxiety and depression.

PlateNotSlate · 27/05/2017 08:56

Awful, awful idea. I work with children with ASD and we have seen this coming for a while now. Children who desperately need support just aren't getting it.

Imagine a cap being put on diagnosis of children with hearing and sight issues, epilepsy, cerebal palsy.

OregonShales · 27/05/2017 08:57

X post with witchend!

AStickInTime · 27/05/2017 09:02

It's shameful. What is this world coming to?

You can be sure it will be hailed a success and transferred to other medical diagnoses.

Truly shocking.

Will it be a case of people needing to pay for diagnosis privately then? Or not even having that access? If I were a paediatrician I'd set up my own practice to bridge the gap.

ClashCityRocker · 27/05/2017 09:04

Like the op, the casual, inconsequential tone it was mentioned in made me think I'd misheard it.

It's insane. Absolutely insane.

user1490817986 · 27/05/2017 09:06

If they do, they will see a huge rise in MH issues amongst young people.

WorshipTheGourd · 27/05/2017 09:06

Shock Sad
My Mother will be happy.
'We didn't have all this nonsense in my day. You weren't allowed to wallow or be ortTIStic, you just got on with it. They cant ALL be ortTIStic these days, they just need a good slap'.
She is called Theresa too, funnily enough.

Hastalapasta · 27/05/2017 09:07

Bonkers! Who proposed this? If the Tories do not win will the plans be shelved?

WorshipTheGourd · 27/05/2017 09:08

sorry, for shameful vent Blush
but, this is the level of thinking behind this sort of idea, surely?

happyhebe · 27/05/2017 09:10

I think it's starting to happen with other conditions. DS has bad asthma and hay fever and needs eye drops, especially at the moment with the exams going on. We went to collect the repeat prescription yesterday and were told that there is a 'shortage' of them and they are not available until some time next week. I can understand that, however we could buy the eye drops for £6 at the same chemist, when we compared them to his nearly empty bottle they are exactly the same drug and the same strength so it's obviously an NHS cost saving exercise.

AgainstTheOddsNo2 · 27/05/2017 09:12

My dd blatantly has aspergers. I struggle daily with whether putting her through the diagnosis process would be worth it as she is coping relatively well and the school are largely accommodating.

I see sooooooo many undiagnosed kids who obviously have social difficulties that I wonder if it is just another branch of"normal "(obviously up to a point on the spectrum as I am not dumb enough, as the government seem to be, to suggest that all kids with autism have the ability to cope with just minor adjustments )

The things that dd needs to help her cope I don't see as unreasonable for most children. She needs certainty, stability, forwarding of stuff and things talked through. She needs kindness and consideration and generally time to process stuff. She needs quiet space and alone time. All of these things can be accommodated without the need for a diagnosis and I can see how sometimes diagnosis can be counter productive increasing the feeling of anxiety and alienation. But that is only the case where environments such as schools are naturally supportive and many many aren't!

Essentially what I am trying to say is that if you want to reduce the number going through the official diagnosis process you need to make sure that other environments are naturally and fully adaptable to the needs of the individual. Are well funded and staffed to allow for it. Let's face it they aren't! If you want to reduce pressure on NHS you need to properly fund schools, nurseries play schemes and community activities all of which are drastically underfunded

MrsKCastle · 27/05/2017 09:13

I saw this on the BBC this morning. Apparently it's being 'considered' at the moment. How can anyone think that it would be ok? Refusing to diagnose someone won't change anything except access to support.

Original poster
roundtable · 27/05/2017 09:13

They expanded a bit more on the BBC just now. Hopefully it won't be accepted as it's a disgraceful idea.

OP posts:
muckypup73 · 27/05/2017 09:14

To be honest i thought once we got a diagnoses that the help would be there for my son, but no we were told he had autism and then sent on our merry way.

Toffeelatteplease · 27/05/2017 09:17

Stuff like this has been going on for a long time but in reverse.

If you have a diagnosis of Autism our local CAMHS won't treat as mental health issues is considered part and parcel of having autism. Similarly the great Ormand street audioprocessing team won't take you on anymore either.

It is totally able restricting access to services. If we don't diagnosis we don't need to provide.

It's a society wide issue. We are becoming a far less caring society

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