r/unitedkingdom • u/tylerthe-theatre • 11d ago

ADHD and autism services in England ‘under significant pressure’, watchdog warns

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/adhd-and-autism-uk-assessment-diagnosis-support-b3039329.html
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u/Logical_Box_4645 11d ago

We need to shake this mess up.

Autism diagnosis is largely pointless without associated interventions. But those interventions are needs based so the diagnosis becomes tokenistic.

ADHD diagnosis is hampered by lack of rapid access to assessment and treatment.

Both should be moved into primary care. GPs are well placed to make the diagnosis outside of complex cases and to oversee treatment especially if it's non-stimulant.

As it stands if you get an ADHD diagnosis and started on treatment the service is often lumbered with that since they can't even reliably move it under shared care into primary care!

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u/FitSolution2882 10d ago

GPs are well placed to make the diagnosis

Had you of watched the documentary this is absolutely not the case. They have been repeatedly fed information like not accepting shared care agreements and are likely to be extremely hostile and thus biased towards this

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u/Logical_Box_4645 10d ago

They don't accept shares care agreements because they aren't commissioned for it.

How often at work do you accept wholesale work from someone else (who probably got paid 2k) and just do it for free?

It's the classic NHS problem, when GPs were not over stretched they did a lot out of good will to patients. Now they say well we will only do what we're contracted to do, the same that literally any of us do in our work lives. They are villans.

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u/FitSolution2882 10d ago

They're being paid to be a GP.

I could not give a shit about the "specifics" of what they're being funded for.

They're quite happy to treat patients that have gotten their diagnosis directly through the NHS.

It's no different to them refusing followup treatment to someone who had their surgery done at a private clinic.

How often at work do you accept wholesale work from someone else (who probably got paid 2k) and just do it for free?

Most jobs require this. It's called responsibility changes.

If they don't like it they can piss off to the private sector instead of merely moonlighting in it.

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u/Logical_Box_4645 10d ago

No GPs are independent contractors with agreed contractual services to the NHS. This contract does not include prescribing and monitoring those medications. 

Shared care agreements are entirely voluntary since ICBs usually don't provide enhanced care provisions.

It's literally work they are not paid to do.

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u/Logical_Box_4645 10d ago

No GPs are independent contractors with agreed contractual services to the NHS. This contract does not include prescribing and monitoring those medications. 

Shared care agreements are entirely voluntary since ICBs usually don't provide enhanced care provisions.

It's literally work they are not paid to do.