Is it worth bypassing the NHS to get a private diagnosis

[Bumblingbovine]

I am new to this section of MN but I go really good advice on my first postasking for advice about ds so here goes.

DS has just moved to Yr 1 at his school which is on a different site to reception.
The thread I linked to above describes the problems he was having in reception and these have continued into year 1. particularly the aggression and hurting.

He is currently on School Action Plus and has a dedicated TA between 9am and 1am so has 1:1 adult support for 20 hrs a week at the moment. The was increased from the 10 hours a week he was getting at reception at the beginning of year 1. We are still having problems but we are having a period of improvement at the moment.

The school are finding him puzzling thpugh as although they have a number of ASD children DS is not as "obviously" ASD but they are concerned that something is not right.

They have brought in an EP to observe him, and have also asked someone from a nearby autism unit to come and observe Ds as well. I have asked them to refer to an OT as I have concerns that ds may be dispraxic. They don't seem to have as much experience with dyspraxia and are investigating how to refer to the OT so I think we may have a wait for that.

They have also asked us to get an assessment done via the GP, which is where my question comes in

We asked the GP for a referral in the summer based on a school report. I won't bore you with the farce of general incompetence, lost paperwork, re-referral and mis-communication that followed but the outcome was that NEARLY 3 MONTHS LATER, the GP has finally sent the right referral letter to the right place (the local community paediatric department). Now we are likely to have a another wait of months before ds is actually seen and I am seriously considering getting a private assement done.

I found this paediatrician and wondered is anyone had heard of her or has any opinion as to the pros and cons of going the private route. It is incredibly expensive as she does a total of about 5 hours of assessment over two days. We can just about afford it but it is a lot of money so I suppose I want to be sure it isn't a waste of money.

Has anyone heard of her? www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/consultant/consultantdetails?p_name=Claire-Scott&p_id=48510

Also she doesn't seem to screen for dyspraxia, and I am really hitting a brick wall as to how to go about getting ds assessed for that reasonably quickly as I ccan't seem to find any private OTs

ntdetails?pname=Claire-Scott&pid=48510 sorry link here

Sorry third time lucky

www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/consultant/consultantdetails?p_name=Claire-Scott&p_id=48510

Not speaking from my own experience but someone who I work with - her granddaughter who has ADHD was originally referred to be seen on NHS but then after a few problems looked into going private and have never looked back.

That is the frustrating all the waiting and being referred to the right ppl. When I first had my concerns re DS my HV just sent me on a Parenting course and it wasnt until I pushed and had the school on my side that we were referred to the right ppl.

I hope you get answers soon.

x

Thanks for the reply Anna

This is one of the most difficult thing about all this, the feeling like I am running round going in circles and achieving very little. The school seems quite good but even they can't seem to give me a clear route or pathway as to how I get a diagnosis for ds in any sort of reasonable timeframe.

Well after being made to feeln it was me!! The school spoke to the HV who came to a session at the school.

She then came and saw me and referred my DS to a Community Paediatrician and it went from there.

So pushing to be referred to one in ur area would be the 1st step I would say!! x

Definitely go for private dx if there is likely to be a long NHS wait.

I did.

And take no notice of those who will tell you the LA will not accept a private dx - that's rubbish. They do.

Thanks Wet August - That was one of my worries that the LA will dismiss a private diagnosis

Anna - After finally getting referred by the GP We will definitely keep on the list for an NHS appointment with a community paediatrician regardless.

She (consultant) sounds fine.

Others on here can gice you private OT details.

Have you considered geting private Ed Pysch report. Although an Ed Pysch cannot actually dx they can say what support your child will require at school to overcome their difficulties.

And you're right to keep on going down the NHS route too for longterm support.
Best wishes

WetAugust

We did consider a private EP and found a good one locally but when I called she said she wasn't taking on any new children for a few months.

I was thinking we would get the paediatric assessment done first and then see if EP was free depending on the diagnoses. If not I found a couple much further away but they are on my reserve list.

We waited months to finally get a dx of 'behavioural difficulties' even though 2 EP's suspect AS/HFA. Ds has numerous traits but passed the Adod test because,I believe, he is so charming and relates really well to adults. We are not accepting this dx but paed refuses to do further assessments which I expect is all down to cost. Am now arranging to see a private paed who specialises in Autism in the hope of getting a more accurate dx. Yes, I agree there is a lot of incompetence around. The NHS paed asked why we were requesting a Statutory Assessment when he is academically doing well [hhmm].Hope you get dx for your ds soon.

Get a private dx, but stay in the system for an NHS one. You can say that you are seeking a second opinion, just that it came first.