Private diagnosis in Oxford?

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Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a particular professional to go to to get an Aspergers diagnosis in or near Oxford, UK? I am an adult female and I'm worried to be told there's nothing wrong with me if the professional doesn't have much experience of female AS.

Many thanks!

Hi,

I used this organisation http://www.privatepsychologyservices.co.uk/index.html to obtain my diagnosis. As far as I recall, they have offices throughout the UK, albeit I have to confess I don't know if they have staff in Oxford.

I paid about £800 but it was a very thorough process and a comprehensive report at the end of it.

Another option would be to try the British Psychological Society and see if they have a list of ASD Psychotherapists in the Oxford area.

I hope this is of some use and wish you well with your search and subsequent meeting.

Hi. I work with young adults on the spectrum in Oxford, and may be able to recommend you to one of the professionals I know there. If you send me a pm we can talk a bit more before taking it further.

I don't have any advice for you about where to go, but I'm also in Oxford and am curious about why you're not taking the NHS route? As far as I know, they've recently changed the structure of the process from referral to diagnosis and who you get referred to.

I have to go for a talk, then fill out some questionnaires and if those are satisfactory, then they're bringing someone from Swindon.

I meant to mention this in my earlier post, but I agree with what ConceptuallyCurious says above: why do you want a private diagnosis when you can get it done for free by the NHS? It's true that some GPs aren't very well-informed about ASD and don't know whether to refer you or not (or they're worried about the cost implications for their practice budget!), but everyone in the UK now has a statutory right to a free diagnosis. It may take a while, but you'll get a diagnosis. I'm going through the process myself at the moment, so I speak from experience.

Hi,

Thanks for your replies.

My husband also has undiagnosed Aspergers and he tried to get a diagnosis from the NHS last year. 8 months ago, I went with him to see our GP and gave him a list I had written of my husband's quirky traits. The GP agreed that it looked like Aspergers but actively tried to discourage him from seeking diagnosis. He asked my husband what a diagnosis would change in his life, and my husband, who has very limited social and conversational skills, didn’t say anything in reply. I insisted on his behalf but was basically told it wasn’t my business. I kept insisting and the GP finally said he would do what he could to get him referred but he wasn’t sure if there was an appropriate service in Oxfordshire (really??)

We didn’t hear back until a couple of weeks ago when my husband got a letter from the same GP, asking him to fill in a form with 4 questions before he could be referred (“do you feel socially confortable?” etc.). After we had given the GP a list with 30+ quirky traits!! Neither of us could believe it. My husband was so annoyed that he threw the letter away and will not seek diagnosis from the NHS ever again.

This is what I am hoping to avoid. What do your NHS experiences look like? Any better?

You could try changing your GP. Mine (a woman) was totally supportive, well-informed and referred me immediately, despite the fact that I'm likely to be subclinical, what is sometimes referred to as a 'cousin' at the higher functioning end of the spectrum, and therefore probably not high priority.

As the old saying goes, don't let the bastards grind you down. You and your husband are entitled to a diagnosis on the NHS, but given the current financial situation there's pressure on GPs budgets. I know it's not easy, but be persistent.

I tried to go through my GP and the NHS route. My GP has always been very supportive and I am lucky in that regard. She had me fill out a referral criteria form and scored 10/10 - A* Hurrah! She then passed it on to the appropriate unit and I waited, and then I waited a bit more......

Eight weeks later I got a letter from them that said they would get around to me at some point, but they had no vacancies and I would just have to wait. My GP chased them up on my behalf and was told off the record that they were concentrating limited funds on diagnosing children and that adults were a low priority.

I was in a difficult situation at the time in that I needed a formal diagnosis to demand some reasonable adjustments to my workplace,so had no alternative but go private.

It is disgusting that the NHS has gone the way it has, but that is another long discussion, and if you can afford to go private then I would say go with that. Sad state of affairs but there we go.