NHS or private assessment?

Getting assessed for your dyspraxia, getting help, disability allowance etc.

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HopefulMike
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NHS or private assessment?

Post by HopefulMike »

Heya,

I dontt know if this has been asked already( most likely) but a question regarding getting assessed.. I have an appointment with a specialist nurse to start the ground running , as on the phone they said they dealt with mental health. But feeling really impatient and not knowing what is going to happen next is driving me mad! should I of insisted in seeing a doctor and asking to get a assessed from a Occupational therapist?

Or do people advise to just go down the private route?

Thanks ( p.s feel free to send me a link to a helpful thread if already answered)

Mike
Tom fod
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Re: NHS or private assessment?

Post by Tom fod »

Hi Mike and welcome.

it's a question that is asked a lot but the answer isn't always the same as there are varying options depending on location, circumstances etc.

NHS Provision for Dyspraxia assessment/assistance is patchy at best. Some peoples GPs refer them a Neurologist, some may be referred to other services perhaps due to co-occurring difficulties - a significant number of us have experience of depression and/or anxiety - depending on what is available and/or what is considered best fit. A lot of service provision seems to be directed at those of school age and professionals like educational psychologists seemingly will often work only with people of school age/referred by their LEA.

Is your boss aware of your difficulties and does your employer have a disability policy? If they're forward leaning on such things, they might consider funding an assessment to ascertain what reasonable adjustments they should offer. to help improve your value as an employee, Disclosing to an employer is considered by most here to be a bit of a double edged sword and some/many of us are set dead against or would prefer not to be considered to have a 'disability' per se. It's a very emotive topic and most of us would be prefer to be valued for what we can do rather than be judged for what we are less good at/struggle with.

If you haven't already, it may be worth having a look at the Dyspraxia Foundation's pages and/or giving their helpline a call as they may also be able to offer some useful advice. There are a number of some private companies/organisations who offer private assessments but the going rate seems to be a good chunk of change (£400 +) though we typically rarely seem to think we're worth it. We probably should do, since we are and should not be underestimated.). It's also worth doing some keyword searches within this forum too.

That's a start. It's not all me through I'm the mad one who cares and still likes to try to answer all the most difficult questions here.

Do let us know things go and don't be shy about asking questions or contributing to existing threads here.
Tom
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HopefulMike
Getting settled in
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2016 7:43 am
Location: Bristol

Re: NHS or private assessment?

Post by HopefulMike »

Hi Tom,

Firstly can I just say thanks for getting back to me so quickly in what I assume is your free time and so in depth. As if people get asking the same question all the time would drive me a bit mad.

I'm hopeful the Nhs can help me but no holding my breath, having read quite a few threads on here. Also quite impatient in finding out and getting support , so may go private anyway if Nhs is s long wait which I'm thinking it will.

I think My work are brilliant with me and so darn patient but it is more about the diagnosis for me and accepting I'm different having avoided it most of my life.

Thanks again
otis_b_flywheel
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Re: NHS or private assessment?

Post by otis_b_flywheel »

Tricky one Mike,
I went to Dyspraxia UK for my assessment and was fortunate to be able to do it privately and thus avoided all the red tape. Factoring in that I had to travel from my home in the Highlands of Scotland to Durham for the nearest adult assessment, it cost me quite a bit more than Tom's estimate! It was quick - about 3 weeks from deciding to go for it to the assessment date, but if you had to save ££ for a private assessment the wait might be as long as it would be in the NHS. I can say that the money I spent on the assessment and associated travel / accommodation was the best I've ever spent.
Good luck
Tim
Tim

"I may not be perfect, but parts of me are pretty awesome."
HopefulMike
Getting settled in
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2016 7:43 am
Location: Bristol

Re: NHS or private assessment?

Post by HopefulMike »

Hi Tim ,

Thanks for the advice , wow that is quick! I think I'll wait on my appointment but if I get some crazy waiting list to be assessed I will be quite tempted to go private/ assessed for work . As much as I hate the thought of being assessed at the moment my anxieties are causing me a lot of stress.
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