Private autism assessment in London (Adult) any advice/experience please?

[MadameJosephine]

My 23 yo DS has been on the waiting list for an NHS assessment for ASD for over 2 years, or so we thought . We were told the wait would be about 18 months but hadn’t heard anything so he chased it up and has now discovered that because he has changed his GP to one in London that he has actually been removed from the list and has to start the process all over again!

Does anyone have any advice or experience on going private for adult ASD assessment? I’ve no idea where to start but am happy to pay if it means we don’t have to keep waiting to get him the diagnosis and help he badly needs. He studies in central London and lives in Acton so somewhere he could travel to via bike or tube would be ideal

Thanks

Anyone?

If he's a student, his Uni or College should have Disability Support Services, they should know who he can self-refer to. Can you contact them on his behalf just to find out what they can do for him?

Just make sure he's being referred for a diagnostic appointment, some places also offer screening which will only tell you that autism is a possibility, but that is NOT a diagnosis and can't be used to get any help.

NAS have a list of practitioners.
They push the Lorna Wing Centre, a diagnosis from there is sen as their gold Standard and you can self-refer. www.autism.org.uk/services/diagnosis/diagnostic.aspx

This is their diagnostic services directory for London, although they do say they don't check anyone listed there, so perhaps better if you made sure exactly what they offer.
www.autism.org.uk/directory/browse/cid=80~aid=254.aspx

@BlankTimes Thank you for your reply. He is known to the disabled students office due to his anxiety issues but hasn’t specifically spoken to them about an autism diagnosis but he says he will. I try not to intervene on his behalf if possible but if he doesn’t get anywhere I’ll ask him for permission to speak to them directly. He’s made an appointment with his GP also to discuss.

I’ve already contacted the Lorna Wing centre. They apparently charge about £2k for a private diagnosis, I didn’t think it would be that expensive although it may be worth sticking on a credit card if that’s the best option. Even then there is a wait of several months though