Can anyone recommend a really good Psychiatrist

[lillmizzk]

Hi all. My teen son has become depressed over the months. CAMHS won’t see him and GP can’t prescribe anti depressants. I know from some threads on here from 2021, some mums were going private with Psychiatrists. Can anyone recommend one. I’m happy to pay around £300 for an hour plus prescription price. Thanks

Where are you based? If in central london I would recommend The Soke in Chelsea, which we have been really impressed with and have seen a number of members of their team.

Why can’t your GP prescribe anything?

We are in Hertfordshire. GPs can’t prescribe for under 18s. Although I know some do as CAMHS are snowed under, but unfortunately AD are normally only prescribed by a psychiatrist.

More and more seem to be doing online consultation- silly expensive initial consultation. Many I looked at had waiting lists so 2 month delays before appointments. It is so sad seeing our children suffer and not being able to put anything in place. We have finally paid more than we can afford as I was worried that delay could make the issues more long term. Sorry I can’t recommend anything but wanted to empathise!

GP can start antidepressants. I’d be asking for 50mg sertraline to start whilst awaiting another review by cahms …… the gp should put in another referral as an urgent referral. Don’t let your child suffer get back to the gp.

Th1me I’m afraid it doesn’t work like that in uk anymore, our GP has done 5 referrals to CAMHS in 4 years and he’s rejected each time, he is then signposted to CBT only, which we have tried twice but didn’t work, CAMHS have tiers, to see a psychiatrist under CAMHS, your child has to now be suicidal, self harming or have an eating disorder. They no longer see children with just depression. Therefore, only way to get AD is privately through a psychiatrist. Which is 1k upwards, as you can’t just have one session. Certainly our GP practise will not prescribe, I’ve read online that some GPs are now doing this, but it’s against uk guidelines and they risk losing their jobs, however, personally, I’ve not come across anyone who’s GP have prescribed in uk.
Hence, this is why so many kids now have depression because it’s left untreated, unless your fortunate enough to be able to pay the extortionate private fee.

Of course it could be very different in other areas other than Hertfordshire.

@lillmizzk we managed to get our (private) psychiatrist to prescribe sertraline but our GP refused to take over the prescription for all the reasons you mention above. We pay for a private prescription.

From experience I can confirm that CAMHS is really only available once your child has suffered serious self-harm or a suicidal episode - and even then the focus seems to be on getting the child back into school

Our consultant has retired, but we found him through The Priory. I know they have had some negative press this week, but they seem to be the biggest place dealing with mental health. They will hopefully have some teen specialists in your area.

Be aware though it won't just be the initial consultation (~£350 for us) & prescription you'll need to pay for. Even if the GP/NHS takes over the prescriptions (which ours did), you will need regular reviews.

We started with 3 monthly reviews, then moved to 6 months. ~£250 a pop.

Now DD is 18 and much improved we have been handed over to GP.

GPs can absolutely prescribe antidepressants to under 18s

The nice guidance is that they can’t until a certain risk level and only after psychological therapies have been tried and that even then it should be a multidisciplinary decision. And Fluoxetine first.

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng134