Pct assessment time guidelines?

[RevoltInParadise]

It was mentioned in another thread that pct s might have timelines in which your child is to be assessed?

Can anyone point me in the right direction please?

Our PCT does not give assessment guidelines to parents. But the average waiting time in our PCT for a multi-team assessment for ASD is currently 36 weeks. If you wish to know the average for your PCT you can always do a Freedom of Information Act request - it's free and they have 20 days to let you know the information.

Interesting, thank you. We were told up to two years until our multidisciplinary meeting.

I wonder if there is stuff available I nt he net to trawl through without having to do a foi?

Would you consider a private assessment?

Give NAS a ring, or your local branch. They might be able to help.

Ultimately guidelines are not law, but if you feel them not adhering to their guidelines is detrimental to the well-being of your child you might get somewhere.

It is also helpful to put in writing to the paed, what you have been told to clarify you understood correctly. This puts these practices in writing where they would not have been previously and the PCT understands that it coukd come and bite them on the bum potentially.

Star, it is too ££. :(

But putting it in writing might be an idea. Might call nas on Monday too.

It's NICE guidelines for diagnosis of children. Guidance came out last year. You need to flag it up with commissioners and put pressure on via MP, local press etc to fund out of area diagnosis to clear backlog. Look at minutes on GP commissioning group if long delay should be flagged up for action. If you have a local parent group you need to demand a meeting with commissioners to explain how they intend to meet nice timescales.

We complained very loudly and got our assessment within six months. But DS is very obviously autistic and all the professionals were telling us that this would be the diagnosis up to 12 months before his official dx. We argued that delaying diagnosis would have a detrimental effect on his future.

publications.nice.org.uk/autism-qs51/quality-statement-1-diagnostic-assessment-by-an-autism-team

NICE Quality statement 1 (Jan 2014)
People with possible autism who are referred to an autism team for a diagnostic assessment have the diagnostic assessment started within 3 months of their referral

Thanks for the links. Interesting!