ADHD & autism assessment Right to Choose

[helpmeoutifyouwantto]

Hi, have been given a list from GP of companies through RTC for ADHD & autism assessments. There are 9 that do both.
I really want an accurate, in person, in depth assessment not a quick one over zoom.
DD has a diagnosis of anx/depression so it needs to take that into account and make sure her problems aren’t solely down to that.
I looked at private but even then how do i know its accurate? I don’t want to spend upto 3.5K and it’s wrong!
What should I be asking the company when deciding which to go with?
Which companies on the RTC lost are the best?
Then theres meds, GP won’t do shared care even from RTC which is ridiculous if the NHS are funding the assessment they must believe these companies are accurate but won’t take their word for it on needing meds its crazy, if we can’t afford private meds is it worth getting a private assessment?
Any advice much appreciated especially which companies are better than others.
Thanks

If your GP won't do shared care, the only option is private ADHD assessment plus private meds if diagnosed, or NHS waiting list for assessment and NHS psychatry following diagnosis. For autism assessment, you can ask the company directly if they offer face to face assessments in your locality, but a lot assess online.

Just to add you could get a diagnosis through RTC and then go private for meds. It’s still expensive but at least you would have the first part done.
if you are considering meds, go for a provider that will give you a proper diagnostic report as a medication service will ask for that.

If you want to go private, the validity of any assessment is less likely to be questioned if the assessments follow NICE guidelines. You can read those guidelines on NICE’s website.

If DD/you would be interested in trying meds if she were to be diagnosed with ADHD and affording ongoing medication privately would be an issue, I wouldn’t go down the private route if the GP won’t take on shared care.

If the GP won’t take on shared care for RTC patients, and they don’t have to take on shared care for anyone NHS diagnosis or not - it isn’t just about whether meds are needed or not, there should still be a pathway in your ICB for medication without paying privately. However, it may be that following diagnosis you join a long NHS list for ratification and medication.

Psicon can offer F2F for both ASD and ADHD assessments.

Ask the qualifications of the people doing the assessments - the NICE guidelines are very vague. You do not want a pharmacist doing an ADHD assessment but thats not unusual under RTC and meets NICE guidelines (at least for adults).

Thanks everyone, still not sure will need to do some research