paying for private OT and paed - is this going to disadvantage ds in the long run?

[deaconblue]

We're waiting for ds (3.9) to get a paed and OT appointment for help with his sensory problems and troubles iwth social interaction. I'm convinced he has a sensory processing disorder so am really keen to see an OT to see if I'm right. We are lucky enough to be able to afford to pay to see an OT and a private paed but I'm concerned that if we take him out of the NHS system, he may then not be able to have access to other services in the long term.
Can you balance the two systems, will a private OT report her findings to the NHS OT once we finally get his appointment?

Just found your thread - our child has SEN and like you rather than sit on an NHS list we paid and fast tracked everything as sooner child gets help the better. We continue to pay to this day - lucky that we can afford it - so far - NHS OT opinion (which we paid for)we had a late starter - wrong. We have moved child to a FAB special school and pay but know a number are statemented. My own experience has been to abandon NHS and state support. It saddens me that so many children are being failed through lack of resources and proper support in their education and development. You may end up with speech and language report and/or ed psych assessment too. Hang tough and above all else follow your instincts. Upside for us is that child now happy, growing in confidence and following a regular curriculum, taught according to his learning style. Above has been a 5 year process!

Hi, i am a qualified OT. Just thought i'd let you know that a private OT is no more qualified than an NHS OT and so them passing info from private assessments to NHS OT, although it would be normal practice, will not enhance NHS treatment in the way you seem to think. The only difference between private and NHS is the employer, not the standard of treatment. Your child will always be entitled to NHS assessment and treatment if necc. regardless of any private treatment they have had previously.

MY DD has had private OT and SaLT and it has the reports from the specialists have helped us to get the help we needed eventually.

Kimmy, I wouldn't imagine that anyone would think that a private OT would be better qualified than an NHS OT.

However, I know that in my area, if you see an NHS OT within 6 months of referral you are very lucky. You might wait 18 months. As they are so overstretched, treatment may then be limited to an assessment. Exercises and equipment may be recommended, but there will be no ongoing treatment/feedback on whether the child has made any progress.

To get even this support, you will probably need to spend time chasing up SENCo's, doctors and missing paper work.

For many children OT would be the key thing to make a difference in their day to day lives. It just doesn't seem to be funded.

Would have thought the opposite. Here the waiting lists are around 18 months and then because the waiting lists are so bad they ration the help they give so it's all very hands-off. Our experience has also been that the private help we've sought has been high-quality - v good at their jobs, they talk and react to each other and have relevant experience so they get to the point very quickly. Our NHS OT was v good but we hardly saw her. Not so convinced on the others. In the long term our ds will therefore benefit from that help. (Still struggling to get anywhere near it through NHS and LEA ....)