lostagain
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Post by lostagain on Oct 28, 2015 22:21:41 GMT
I have contacted the Bristol aadhd clinic to find out about the timescales for an assessment. I was told that there is a 7 months waiting list! Is this normal? I find the wait Stressful
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2015 22:27:37 GMT
Normality is fiction Yeah the wait is a long time Not sure what to suggest in the meantime Indulge in the forum and use us for support
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2015 0:05:24 GMT
I saw a letter on a GPs computer today saying 24months.
I know that's wrong (it's an estimate).
What happens - the service is staffed by X number of people*.
Each practitioner can only have so many people on their books.
When that number is reached they stop diagnosing people - because the rest of their caseload has to be reviewed and serviced to an agreed standard.
They then operate on a 'dead man's shoes' principle - to take someone on someone else has to leave.
*it's a funding issue - they only have a certain budget which gets them X number of practitioners. That funding is not going up (they promised it would - it's more likely to reduce).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2015 0:08:26 GMT
planetdave is a borderline genius
grr why can't i be one?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2015 10:01:41 GMT
Whaddayamean, borderline? lostagain got an indirect answer and it probably helps if you understand why waiting lists are as long as they are. We have increased demand on services and the two ways to expand are - People not using the service anymore
- More practitioners
The NHS are rationing ADHD services via funding so private practitioners are one way to expand - the only limit in that case is the number that GP services support. Most people would find it too expensive unless... It has occurred to me that some people would make good support practitioners. I run support groups and also see people on a support/advocacy basis - having someone like me keeping an eye on service users would be a very cheap way to expand (officially NHS ADHD clinics are supposed to coordinate with their local support groups - guess how much they do?) leaving the psychiatrists and specialist nurses more time to do the 'spearhead' work (diagnosing/prescribing and crisis support) leaving the civvies, who would need training, to do the donkeywork of service user interfacing. edit - I was so busy thinking about my clever idea that I nearly forgot lostagain (sorry!).
Seven months is a horribly long time to wait for an assessment and it's quite reasonable for you to feel stressed. My pointing out that people are waiting longer is only to show that a wait is normal and part of what this site is about is advocacy work to make this wait shrink to 'normal' NHS length because the wait is torture and one of the reasons that drove me, and other people (the ones with the T shirt), to get into activism.
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Post by vagueandrandom on Oct 29, 2015 10:56:49 GMT
I like your clever idea @planetdave
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Post by northnmunki on Oct 29, 2015 14:03:06 GMT
I've been told 9-10 months wait to see Dr Mason at St Cath's. It is very stressful but I know it isn't their fault.
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Post by Bee on Oct 30, 2015 0:49:57 GMT
I was seen at Bristol, and my wait was 7-9 months - I can't remember now. They do the whole assessment on the day though, and they gave me a script for my new meds on the day and I picked up my Concerta the day after (when I'd stopped shaking). So as long a wait as that is, at least you shouldn't have to wait any longer for your treatment.
The wait is a killer though!
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Post by mypineappledream on Oct 30, 2015 18:33:11 GMT
I've waited 23 months. I'm told it's happening soon, sure hope that it's true.
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Post by hermanli on Oct 30, 2015 22:31:57 GMT
Well I was trying very hard to get on a list for the past 10 years without luck. I finally managed to do so in August last year but am still about 200 on the wait list. I think my time is going to eclipse mypineappledream's !
But in around Mat I kicked up a fuss with a big complaint letter about all the severe problems Ive faced from MH services, including the lack of ADHD assessment. I then contacted the CCG directly when I came to understand it was their responsibility and managed to get them to send me for an assessment with a private psychiatrist elsewhere.
So I am diagnosed now, but have been told I can still keep the my original appointment spot. Which I am, because I have currently chosen not to take stimulants but wellbutrin, its not working and Ill probably switch when I get seen.
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lostagain
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Post by lostagain on Nov 1, 2015 8:18:16 GMT
Thank you all for your replies. In the meantime the forum gives some confort... (sorry to hear about your story Hermanli and about the sitution as pointed out by Planetdave)
Is good to hear about your eperience Bee...
And thanks agin Planetdave and alec77
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