Received ADHD CAMHS assessment, discharged with recommendations, then what ?

[Iamsodone]

Hello all,
my DS has just received a diagnosis of ADHD by CAMHS today, over the phone. CAMHS sending a report out in 3 weeks. I understand that the report will confirm the diagnosis and then will include recommendations for home and school, and just discharged us - not kidding!

if these were not found to be effective, then we have to go back to the GP and asked to be referred back to CAMHS to be seen again ... so it's back to queuing again and the best part of a school year gone (this is year 9).

I just wonder what other people do in that case. do they wait and see? or switch to private ?

we have a good knowledge of the school accommodations : seating arrangements, movement breaks and exam access, and range of scaffolding method.

They definitely improve life, but not totally game changers, and DS is struggling and losing confidence, he is bright but struggle with getting organized, starting and finishing task and constantly loses focus in the classroom.

It's rather frustrating to have waited all that time to be seen, for so little support and then have to queue up again.

Thoughts ?

What about meds? Were they mentioned? Have a look at the NICE guidelines, think they might suggest parenting interventions first, then meds, but sounds awful to be discharged and have be re-referred back in? Was talking to aPsychologist who assesses for ADHD this week and she was saying the evidence base is increasungly clear that medication is effective in 70-80% of people with ADHD which is a strikingly high.

@MrsLamb I asked about meds as my DS even asked me when we were in the waiting room for the assessment. the CAMHS assessor said that if the accommodations at home and school are not sufficient, we have to go back to the GP who will then refer us back to CAMHS, she had no idea who long it would take to be seen.
the process is confusing, NICE guidelines suggest that for severe ADHD the meds can be offered straight away (moderate and severe, suggests accommodations first), but the CAMHS assessor said they do not grade the symptoms as the symptoms vary up and down with life, environment etc so I guess CAMHS themselves are not following the NICE guidelines themselves.

We know so many people whose life has been much improved with Meds that being discharged feels even more frustrating!

@Iamsodone - that is not very satisfactory, although our kids are treated so badly by collapsing services these days that nothing is that surprising any more.

Might be worth firing a letter off sharpish requesting a consultation on meds before the discharge is formalised ? (Usually only a Consultant Paed or or Psychiatrist will be able to initially prescribe, I think, so you might need to find out who DC would be under?)? If you have already taken any of the steps that would be covered in standard parent education do mention this too, along with DC's school year and impact on personal confidence and schooling? Not sure if it would help, but you could contact SSENDIAS who may know more about what happens in your area, and the CCG, especially if practice is outwith the NICE guidelines.

The problem with going private is that there is a longish process of titratation which could make for quite a few appointments, Not sure how it works for kids, but for adults, you'd then try and hand back to the NHS for shared care, but the relationship with the private prescriber would continue including meds reviews.

thanks @MrsLamb
thanks yes we have taken a number of steps at home, and to be honest school too... like rearranging seating plans and support with task initiation (in extended pieces of writing) none of this really helps with the racing brain

we have done private twice, our GP will take shared care after 3 Months, as long as you are stable at that point.

I have now booked GP appointment to discuss that, she might know who would titrate, but it's clearly a different department, diagnostic was with a psychologist (they prescribe as far as I am aware).

Good luck @Iamsodone. DC aged 13 was telling me today how he felt medication definitely made school a lot easier.