Assessment with Clinical Partners

[Namechanger965]

DD (age 5) has been referred for ASD assessment but obviously waiting lists are huge (and apparently longer due to Covid). We’ve had a letter from the NHS offering assessment through a private company called Clinical Partners instead, obviously funded by the NHS though. Does anyone have experience of going through this company/private assessment instead of NHS? The letter does say that we can opt to stay on the NHS list but it will most likely be a couple of years. The assessment process looks to be the same.

If the NHS is redirecting you to them then it means the NHS will accept their diagnosis which is usually the main sticking point with private organisations. They say on their website that they follow NICE guidelines which is basically all the NHS pathway does anyway. I'd take the opportunity to skip the waiting list (for free!) if I were in your shoes :)

I would be taking the opportunity too.

I would definitely take up the opportunity but if you are not happy with the outcome then it may still be worth paying for a second opinion.
Clinical Partners assessed my DC during lockdown and said they didn’t meet threshold for full diagnosis. To be fair this was all via Zoom
Fast forward a couple of years and the transition to secondary school has been a disaster (complete breakdown). We now have a diagnosis of ASD and ADHD - done privately but council outreach worker has said they support EHCP and specialist provision.
As I said, the lockdown assessment was via Zoom, and my DC has been masking successfully for 10 years so knows how to play the game, but don’t accept an assessment that you are not happy with.

In West Yorkshire, Clinical partners are highly regarded and I have only heard good things about them, certainly better than NHS in time/service

My daughter went privately through them last October for an ADHD test, she was 13, we had to wait 6 weeks. The Dr who assessed her then recommended an ASD assessment too, for which we had to wait 5 months. She was diagnosed with both, and both assessments were via Zoom. They only use CAMHS recognised professionals.

They have been very good. The Dr she is under for the medication reviews has been a godsend in helping us with a very reluctant school too

I've recommended them to a friend who's having her son assessed next month with them as I really can't fault them

For comparison I was told an 18 month - 2 year wait on the NHS for the ADHD, and 3-5 year wait for ASD