Kent ASC diagnosis Right to choose help

[Littlebluebird123]

Hello.
Anyone any experience of using Right to choose in Kent for ASC diagnosis?
I've completed the Single point of access and it's been accepted. Where do I go from this? DC is 16 so will age out before reaching the wait list end.
Any help appreciated. Thank you.

If you go down the RTC option, you don’t follow the normal referral process for your area, you/DC need to speak to the GP.

@KeepGoingThomas
Have you experience in Kent? I was told I had to get it approved first then speak to GP as they won't refer without going through that process.

I don’t live in Kent, but if you read the NHS choices framework, which applies to all areas in England, RTC is at the point of referral from the GP. Going to the SPA for the area you live in is beyond this point.

This page is from psychiatry UK about adult ASD assessments under RTC. Notice the FAQs states the referral needs to be from your GP and you don’t need to wait for ICB agreement (even though some GPs/ICBs say you do). Although psychiatry UK don’t do child ASD assessments under RTC, those FAQ still apply to other providers.

@KeepGoingThomas
Thank you. I understand the referral has to come from GP but they refused unless they 'passed' the Single point of access triage. It's very frustrating.

As I posted and linked to, you don’t need to wait for approval from your area. Go back to the GP, challenge it and complain.

@KeepGoingThomas
Yes, sorry. I meant I'd been fobbed off!
I'm going to go back again!
Thank you.

No idea but if you give up and want to find a private assessor in Kent I have a good recommendation which isn’t as expensive as some but still just under £1.5K 😬 the
clinicians have worked in the NHS prior to being private. I wasn’t waiting 4 years but also know with anxious kids being assessed in such a drawn out NHS way can be quite a negative experience so found one that was as neurodiversity affirming as possible and as an ADOS can be. Appreciate it’s a lot of money.

@spinningplates2024
I'd appreciate a recommendation. Thank you

@Littlebluebird123 I went to Dr Sirja van Zyl for my son’s assessment at Kent Psychologist in Tonbridge. I was very happy with the way she did the assessment. My son was clearly neurodivergent but not a problem to manage at school so whilst they would not have gone against a referral there would have been no urgency. As predicted his needs are increasingly evident around anxiety and social difficulties as he gets older so I am pleased we have the assessment in place.

That should say I’m pleased we have the diagnosis in place.