What will happen at UK health appointments?

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My GP is referring me to a department of the NHS to begin the process of discovering whether I have aspergers.

Who could I be seeing? And what will happen at the that appointment?

And what will happen after that?

Thanks

soundofrain

That really depends on where you are going and whom you see.

I was going to be seen by an NHS psychiatrist at an outpatient clinic. I was sent a questionaire to complete and return but as I didn't want to wait a considerable length of time to be seen I chose to see a specialist privately.

The National Autistic Society have a section with some useful info:-
http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/a ... xpect.aspx

I'm not sure, but the term Psychiatrist does ring a bell...

Why am I being sent to a psychiatrist, not a neurologist?

Psychiatrists are the people who diagnose/evaluate matters of the mind and neurologists are more concerned about the brain in relation to our nervous system.

Thank you CosmicRuss and nemorosa for your replies.

I've looked at the National Autistic Society website where I learned about DISCO. I understand that the information on the diagnostic tool isn't readily available so I've chatted to a friend of a friend who has advised me to make and take a list of my weaknesses and strengths, as well as all the questions I have. She has also advised me to be confident i.e. remember to have self-esteem in this situation.

Does anyone agree, and does anyone have anything else to add to this? I would like to get the most out of this as possible. Any advice would be extremely helpful.

Soundofrain

I had to fill in a questionnaire as well and they rang to today for a appointment in February.

SoundOfRain I agree to write down your weaknesses I have a list my self which I will redo and take it with me.

I'm just wondering how on earth you managed to get a referral on the NHS- no chance of that where I am.

Postcode lottery, I'm afraid.
In my case, my psychiatrist happens to be the district consultant so he has the power to refer me to an out-of-district autism specialist centre. After reading their website (Sheffield Asperger Service) it says that they only accept referrals from consultant psychs (no self-referrals, or even GP referrals). Therefore, I realise I am extremely lucky to be getting a referral at all. Given that I've been in the mental health system for so long, have been passed from psychiatrist to psychologist to psychotherapist, and yet they've only just made a referral, I can imagine it must be near-impossible for someone just starting out at the bottom of the ladder.