Capping the number of children diagnosed with autism

[roundtable]

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

Cory I'm so sorry

I actually think it would be good if it was something that a gp could diagnose. Waiting lists for diagnosis by a panel are years long in some areas and I think that money would be better spent on helping parents manage the condition and funding for school provision.
As a parent I knew my child was autistic anyway. And schools SHOULD be making accommodations based on need rather than diagnosis. The reality in my experience is that there isn't funding for sufficient accommodations in mainstream even when a child is diagnosed. In the current system so much is spent on diagnosis then it is very difficult to access speech, occupational therapy etc that will help, particularly in mild cases. So scrapping lengthy diagnosis to divert money into day to day support would be a good idea imo. But not as a cost cutting measure.

Sorry mrsdv I hope my post made it clear that i found the process of cutting through the beaurocratic bollox to get ds in front of a paediatrician made me batty pushy rather than me being pushy made ds autistic!

We had such a different experience with dd1 diagnosis a year or so before ds was diagnosed. She was 8 and her teacher identified an issue and when we went for a referral we thought the paediatrician would say she was fine if a little unusual. When she said very quickly "well clearly your daughter is autistic" it was a surprise!

We know better now. The policy in South London is clearly resource led and very short sighted. You only need to look at the high suicide stats for autistic people and low employment rates to know that support, understanding and resources are needed for HF autistic young people to function successfully as they grow up.

My life was one long series of fuck ups due to undiagnosed "mild" autism.

This is an awful, awful decision :(

I have held off asking for help with my ds's as they both "cope" (I have the benefit of experience myself here), and now I'm wondering if that was the right decision.

but as far as i understand it it needs a multi disciplinary approach, therefore not a GP.

I discussed the likelihood of my DS having HFA and was referred to a paediatrician, she offered DS support for anxiety issues without diagnosis, he was seen by cahms and had CBT. She said she would contact me in 6 months and see if I wanted a full assessment. After advice from MN and others I decided to go ahead. DS was diagnosed within an hour and a half.

My experience seems so different to many.

@NormaSmuff
"dont blame the clinicians, dont hate the paediatricians.
blame the cqcs and budget holders"

No, the CCGs only have the budgets they are allocated centrally by NHS England. NHS England only has the budget it is permitted by the Department of Health. The Department of Health only has the budget it is given by the Treasury.

There is not enough money in the system. Sadly the CCGs can't magic up money they don't have.

It is directly party political. The Tories are starving the NHS of resources. It is creaking.

Do not vote Tory. Vote tactically for the anti-tory candidate most likely to win in your constituency. If it's solid tory, vote against them anyway, to register a higher vote for the opposition parties.

Currently yes but there's no reason it has to be such a drawn out process.

God no I would not want a GP diagnosing this. There is some expertise required and a range of inputs -- school, parents, educational psychologists and paediatricians two different diagnostic tools 3di and another questionnaire but the name escapes me. GPs cannot manage that in a 5-10min appt... And as the last few times I have visited the GP they have needed to consult with Dr Google. I would have more faith in a diagnosis via mumsnet!

But simply capping diagnosis is some areas is madness. If the threshold for diagnosis is seen to be too low then that should be reflected in changes to the diagnostic criteria. If it isn't then you should be diagnosed regardless of where you live.

from the BBC
Proposals to reduce the number of children being diagnosed with autism are being considered by NHS commissioners in south-west London.
so not a nationwide policy then
nothing to do with the Conservative party or the general election
proposals only - but don't let that get in the way of 'tory-hate'

scare-mongering as usual.
If you don't want labour to get in - please vote Conservative or don't vote at all.

Better trained gp's should be able to diagnose. It wouldn't have to be in 10 minutes or at a first appt. The current system of parents being in limbo for years helps no-one.
And a diagnosis isn't some magical holy grail that some think it is. School provision, DLA, access to services should all be based on need rather than diagnosis.
My sons diagnosis has opened doors to no help at all. He was diagnosed then discharged. OT and speech therapy I have paid for privately. School I have battled with and still am. Social skills programmes I have paid for.

I wouldn't want GPs making a diagnosis either.

I've seen colleagues walk out with sick notes after laying it on thick when they fancied some time off, it's very easy to fool a GP sadly.

It is entirely to do with Tory funding @olliegarchy99.

It's the Tories who are denying the NHS money.

These issues are cropping up all over the country.

I'm not a 'hater'. What a patronising way to attempt to dismiss my viewpoint.

I work in the NHS. I know how the funding works. I know the type of decisions budget holders have to make every day. I'm also well aware of how much it needs to reform yaddayadda. But the current system cannot function with the level of cash it has now.

And that money is set centrally. Where do you think it comes from?

What I'm trying to say is I'd much rather visit a gp and have them say it sounds like some kind of social communication issue - here are the services you can access. Than wait years for a diagnosis, be discharged and receive no help whatsoever.

And if someone did fool a gp what would they gain? You have to provide proof of need to claim DLA. Schools make accommodations based on need - not diagnosis.

Is the problem DLA, does having a diagnosis give you an entitlement?
My sons ASD does not affect me financially.

Schools have budget constraints as well and needs are overlooked

You don't automatically get DLA with an autism diagnosis. Benefits are assessed on need. My kids don't need DLA (atm) so we wouldn't get it. I wouldn't even waste the time applying as I know they don't meet the thresholds.

No it doesn't. I had to provide evidence from the school and OT assessments of my childs needs.
Anyone can go a gp at any time and fabricate a list of symptoms to get themselves or their child diagnosed with something. Why do people only think that's a problem if it's asd?

With my Ds we saw an initial paediatrician after referral from GP (Gp was unsure and felt it was most likely not), paediatrician said should refer for full assessment but 1 in 3 of her recommendations werr being over turned. We did get a full referral and also had the 'he clearly fit the criteria' and was surprised (Ds cope quiet well and appears a bit quirky to most).

I think because I had experience in early years and took a folder for obs, history etc it helped.

Looks like this has been happening for a while unofficially.

It's shocking to say the least

I agree NormaSmuff but having a diagnosis makes no difference. My sons school have been no more willing/able to accommodate his needs since his diagnosis.They are no more obliged to accommodate his needs since diagnosis. If money from the expensive diagnostic process was put into helping children in schools I'd be all for it. Whether they have autism, traits of autism or any social communication difficulty.
I doubt that's what this is about though. It will be about saving money rather than using it more effectively.

This is a terrible idea.
WTAF?

My ds was diagnosed with Asperger's after waiting 2 and a half years from referral to assessment. The wait here is horrendous and that's after having to reach the higher threshold they introduced to even get onto the waiting list.

Like many we were sent away with no support, it was a case of "yes, mini Ifart has AS, away you go now, here's a parenting course" ( which we're still on the waiting list for)

Getting through that process was hard enough without the wait to be seen, getting a diagnosis was harder, we had SALT, OT, IDS, neurodevelopmental Pead reports and school input, being 'pushy' has nothing to do with it. Ds1 is very high functioning and we're lucky we're in a good school who have helped him so much but, that may change when he moves up to seniors, that's why we wanted to know either way so that the support could be in place when he changes school, his diagnosis helps with that.

Had we lived in the areas they're considering this then I don't think my son would have been assessed and all the help he has had to enable him to not only function, make friends, achieve his potential and thrive wouldn't have happened.

This is due to cuts, austerity and the government wanting to run the NHS into the ground. CAMHS everywhere are chronically underfunded. It's despicable and short sighted.

I wouldn't want GPs making a diagnosis either. I've seen colleagues walk out with sick notes after laying it on thick when they fancied some time off, it's very easy to fool a GP sadly.

Equally plenty of worried parents get told by their GP they're pfb, their child is fine, mum is over anxious, totally normal for a three year old to be wholly non verbal, no need to refer on..... and when the GP is bypassed and the HV or someone else refers to the paediatrician the child is immediately diagnosed. I've seen children with really severe needs missed this way! GPs are rarely paediatric specialists with the kind of training needed to accurately identify ASD and separate it out from the many other possible needs or diagnoses.

This is not just a London thing, we are in the midlands and unless a child is demonstrably suicidal they can't access camhs in our area

We've spent 5 years being shunted round the system with a useless paediatrician, ineffective gp service all more interested in ticking boxes than providing help

We've been waiting a year now for cbt via camhs for mysophonia and crippling anxiety and have had to organise alternative education as they system just isn't there for high functioning ASD in our area

My second child has no hope of even accessing the system in our area having asked our paediatrician, as he is coping but quite obviously like his sister

As for their dad he too gets little support as an adult