ADHD Diagnosis - Why You Should Seek Help Privately
With wait times for service at an all time high, private adult ADHD assessments are becoming increasingly popular. Anyone who is registered with a GP in England can use their "Right to Choose" and choose to be referred to a private provider.
This enables them to be assessed and diagnosed within a couple of months, as opposed to waiting for years on the NHS.
Waiting at various times
An increasing number of people are seeking a diagnosis of ADHD. It is estimated that more than one million adults have undiagnosed ADHD in the UK, and waiting times for NHS assessments are increasing. In certain areas, it can take as long as seven years for an appointment to become available. High-profile individuals, such as Great British Bake Off host Sue Perkins and Johnny Vegas have also spoken out about their experiences with the condition. However many adults who require a diagnosis are having to seek assistance privately.
In some cases, patients were told they would have to wait 18 months to be given a prescription for ADHD medication. This is due to a shortage of personnel in the public health system. The issue is particularly acute in Greater Manchester, where service providers are struggling to cope with the demands. Referrals are a result of the lack of a top-down approach for ADHD. This has resulted in the outsourcing of adult ADHD evaluation to private providers like Psychiatry UK. The result is long waiting times for patients.
A BBC Panorama investigation has sparked controversy over how private clinics diagnose ADHD. An undercover journalist visited three private clinics and was found to be diagnosed with ADHD by all. The BBC has claimed that these clinics are rushing through assessments and prescribing powerful medications without offering proper advice regarding possible adverse consequences. Despite these claims however, the BBC report has been criticized for failing to pay attention to the bigger issues surrounding the delivery of ADHD services in the UK.
The NHS currently has a backlog of over 10,000 adult ADHD patients. The increased awareness of the condition and the growing number of people seeking an assessment are the reason. The demand has even surpassed the capacity of NHS services and some areas are being unable to offer an assessment even. The lucky ones to get an assessment on the NHS have long wait times for treatment.
There are several ways for people to reduce the time it takes to wait to receive an ADHD diagnosis. The first is to talk to their GP and explain why they believe they may have the condition. Their GP should be concerned and send them to an assessment.
Psychiatrists
The process of being diagnosed with ADHD can be a snooze for adults. There is a lot of demand for ADHD assessments, yet the NHS is struggling to meet this demand. This has led to many shortcuts, ranging from private clinics to online assessments. They aren't always accurate and can lead to a mistaken diagnosis.
If you are seeking a diagnosis of ADHD it is crucial to seek out an expert psychiatrist who specializes in this type of condition. A general practitioner or psychologist might not have the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to diagnose ADHD. If you're unsure who to contact, ask your local mental health service for a list. You may also ask your GP to refer you to a specialist which is usually the fastest method to receive an ADHD assessment.
ADHD is becoming more and more commonplace, and many people seek help. Although it isn't possible to treat the condition however, there are a variety of treatments that can help improve symptoms. This includes psychiatric medicine, psychotherapy, as well as lifestyle adjustments. Certain people also take supplements to help reduce symptoms.
A psychiatrist who specialises in ADHD can assist you in finding the best treatment for your symptoms. They can assess you for symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, problems with working memory, poor sleeping habits and emotional dysregulation. They will also request details about your childhood as well as your family history. They will then work out an individualized plan for you that may include psychotherapy, medication, or the combination of both.
You can make a legal decision in the event that your GP recommends an adult ADHD assessment in England. You can use this Right to Choose service to select a clinic that offers NHS assessments in your area. You can also avail the services of a private clinic that does NHS assessments. These clinics have shorter waiting times and also offer video calls.
The Psychiatrists at Anchor Psychiatry Group in Norfolk and Waveney have more than 23 years of combined experience in providing holistic psychotherapeutic and psychiatric evaluations to adults. They specialize in attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD), alongside other issues that present like anxiety and depression.
Costs
There is no doubt that the demand for private ADHD tests is increasing and is set to continue. This is due to a combination of factors, including a growing awareness of the condition, a underfunded NHS and a society where mental health issues are becoming more prevalent. Many sufferers are aware of the potential damage that untreated ADHD could do to their career and relationships and are willing to pay for getting diagnosed in order to receive treatment.
The BBC Panorama documentary, which focused on the issue of private ADHD clinics, raised the issue that some businesses are exploitation of vulnerable patients. The documentary by BBC Panorama exposed that some private clinics charge people thousands of pounds to receive poor assessments and inadequate follow-up care. This is a serious issue that the government must address.
The NHS allows adults to choose which psychiatrist to see for a diagnostic appointment. This option is usually restricted to specific NHS health regions, or to GPs with contracts with these providers. As a result, GPs are often overburdened with this task and might not be able to offer a full service to people suffering from ADHD. This has led to an increase in private ADHD assessment services, which are generally cheaper than NHS appointments.
While some of these private companies do a good job, others are not as reliable or professional as the NHS. Some of these services charge for diagnosis, which could lead patients to become obsessed with their symptoms. This will not improve their lives and will cause a loss of money that could be spent on other services such as anxiety or depression.
However, some NHS services are excellent and offer a professional, comprehensive service to people suffering from ADHD. These include the Maudsley Hospital in London, that is renowned throughout the country for its adult ADHD assessment and care. However, even these services are struggling with the demands of an growing patient population, and they are unlikely to change unless the government improves investment in mental health services.
Insurance
It can be costly to get a private ADHD assessment but it's well worth it if you can afford. The diagnosis can improve your quality of living and aid you in a variety of areas, including your relationships at work and in other areas. Your insurance provider must be informed of any diagnosis in order to determine the best amount of coverage for you.
If you have a private health insurance policy, you should check its terms and conditions to determine whether it covers ADHD assessments. Axa PPP (private healthcare provider), Aviva (private health insurance provider), Bupa (private health insurance provider), and Vitality Health all have different policies. Some will not cover the assessment, but others will. private adhd assessment london should review the terms and conditions attentively to find out what they cover.
Doctors may not recommend patients for an ADHD assessment due to different reasons but this isn't always justified. If your GP does not want to assist you, try finding a different one. If your doctor is unwilling to sign a shared care contract with you regarding medication, you can try to seek a second opinion from an ADHD clinic. There are many online ADHD tests to choose from however, they can be misleading.