Advice needed regarding diagnosis please (uk)

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Hi all, I just wanted your opinion on something as I'm not sure what to do.

I got diagnosed with ASD this year aged 36. I had a very bad experience with the NHS organisation I was referred to (The psychologist stood me up online several times, had a bad attitude and kind of dismissed me prior to our proper first meeting saying if I was Autistic I wouldn't be able to express my opinions so well)

I complained to the organisation and said I need to have a think about whether I want to continue with them as they've caused me nothing but stress and I found the psychologist very unprofessional. I said I need to have a think about whether I want to continue with them or be seen elsewhere. I said I also find online assessments uncomfortable and it might be better to revisit things when they're doing face to face assessments. They apologised profoundly and said that's fine, we can put the assessment on hold until then and that I could be put with a different psychologist.

I was really stressed out and upset by this whole experience with them so I did decide to go privately and got diagnosed. I was so comfortable that my assessor was thoughtful and knowledgeable that I agreed to be assessed remotely. The psychologist who assessed me works privately but he's also the lead NHS clinician for the Adult Aspergers service in the neighbouring borough to me so he's very credible and my doctor happily added the assessment report on to my medical records.

Anyway, the original NHS provider have now contacted me and said they're starting to do face to face assessments and would I still like an appointment? She said it will be with someone different, that the psychologist has received extra supervision and that they'd do their best to ensure all appointments happen on time.

I am wondering whether it would be worth doing it and getting diagnosed by the NHS too or if it doesn't matter if my doctor has put the diagnosis on my medical records? To be honest the process as a whole was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do and I'm really reluctant to go through it all again (and I'm not sure my manager would allow me time off work to get diagnosed again!) but at the same time I'm wondering if it would be a good thing to do in the long run or if there's no point? If my doctor's put it on my medical records surely everybody should be fine with it?

The NHS organisation itself offers some useful post diagnosis services such as a therapy although I'm thinking I might still have access to that stuff even if I don't get diagnosed through them. I don't know, I'm so confused and unsure what to do.

I don't know what to say. Hopefully someone who knows more can comment.

Hello
If you have been diagnosed by a credible private doctor (ideally a clinical psychologist who specialises in this area).
Then, you have officially been formally diagnosed and no further action is required in terms of diagnosis with the NHS.

The NHS will surely accept your doctors diagnosis, if credible, and I imagine all you will need to do in order to receive support from the NHS support Services for your area, is a copy of your formal diagnosis paperwork.

They will likely then be able to refer you to any support services in your area.

If in doubt, you may also write or phone the advisers at the National Autism Society (NAS), which you can find online at the following website: National Autism Society

Contact the organizations that offer the services you want and ask them if they'll accept the diagnosis you have.

Why was your evaluation so difficult?

I think you've just been unlucky with that one person.

I saw an NHS psychologist when I was in my mid-20s and I hated everything about them. And I should have complained like you did but instead I just walked out after a couple of sessions. I've also seen private counsellors and shrinks and I've definitely gelled with some better than others. Finding the right people is important and there's always an element of pot luck involved.

Just been diagnosed this year at the age of 45, also by the NHS, and the people I saw were excellent.

I often wonder what might have happened if I'd handled the situation 20 years ago more constructively and argued to see someone else back then. Probably would have saved me a lot of hassle and uncertainty in my life.

If you have a diagnosis now then provided it's recognised by the NHS there's no point in being re-assessed. However I would ask your NHS team what help is available post-diagnosis and definitely see what they can do for you. Don't be put off because you didn't get on with one person. There are dicks in all walks of life unfortunately.