ADHD Right too Choose

[Exactfare]

School want my son to be assessed for ADHD via the right to choose route (as the camhs route is years in our area), GP is happy to progress this based on evidence from school but wants me to name a provider

I'm not really sure were to start, does anyone have any recommendations? He's only 7 so needs to be face to face really. We are in Shropshire/Cheshire area

Ask the school they will know some in the area

You can look here to find out waiting times for certain providers. https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/right-to-choose-wait-times/ there's also some Facebook groups with advice and support. We used clinical partners for my daughter who was 7 at the time. Assessment was done Via zoom with no problems.

The website above is a good resource, take a look to see waiting times and also look at whether they do in person or online assessments.

Held health have been great with my 8 year old.

Thank you, can I ask how you found an online assessment?

Thanks all - at this stage we would not consider medication, his teacher has suggested we go down this route as she thinks it will help avoid him getting labeled as a naughty kid when he's distracted, figiting, not waiting to answer questions etc hes also been having lots of "I'm a bad kid thoughts"

The GP did seem to think medication would be difficult with right to choose?

Has anyone and a diagnosis young and then needed medication in the teenage years?

The assessment was really easy. They spoke to my daughter first this lasted no longer 10mins. They then went through the rest of the questions with me. After a couple of weeks we had a follow up appointment and received the report via email. If you do decide you might want to try medication the next stage is a waiting for for titration. We've just been offered this after 6 months. Other providers might be quicker.

We did right to choose
absolutely no issue with medication
and why you’d discount meds at this stage when it could massively help your son is… odd

Don't believe the waiting times. We've been referred and picked. Care UK because it said the wait time was minimal. Well, maybe it will be once they receive the forms from us. But it's been months since the GP referral and we've not even had an acknowledgement from Care UK of the referral, and they haven't sent us the details or forms yet, so we can't send them in.

Really disappointing.

I'm really sorry but this is a very poor quality assessment and I would hesitate before recommending this route for any child. A remote 10 min session for 7 year old? This is nowhere close to NICE guideline, regardless of what the provider says.

Agreed

My son’s assessment involved 2 in person meetings plus a meeting with just me.

It doesn't sit right with me neither, his brothers autism assessment was 2 hours in person and I know they took into account lots of his behaviours not just his answers to the questions

My husband's ADHD assessment was online but it was 2-3 hours of intense questioning, there's no way it would be appropriate for a small child

Was this via Camhs or RTC?

RTC

Can I ask which provider?

Not considering medication at the minute for specific reasons which might change as he gets older, he does need accomodations at school but he is very bright and doing well academically but a diagnosis would help on future with understanding of his behaviours (which are inattentive and fidgity but not too disruptive)