We've had a diagnosis since just before she turned three, essentially self-diagnosed her and pushed for the diagnosis directly through a paediatrician (who did so almost straight away). We were told at the time that it's not the "normal" route that they're willing to go down, which is essentially that a referal has to be made either through a Health Visitor or the child's nursery, and then there's a whole trail of appointments and BS. Meaning that most won't even be seen by anyone qualified to make the call until they are at least 5 or 6, by which point there are usually learned / masking behaviours that make it even harder to get an ASD diagnosis. We have a friend with a 6 and a half year old boy who (in my opinion) has very clear ASD, it was even clearer when he was a toddler, but his mum still can't get an official diagnosis to get him more help.

It's shameful really. People trust the system to make the right call but the truth is, unless you do the research yourself and fight like hell, they make it very hard. Even then, you have to do it confidently and eloquently in order to be taken seriously... my wife basically went in there like "Hello Dr, my daughter IS autistic, please sign a letter to this effect" rather than asking the poor guy's opinion :joker:... I wouldn't mess, to be fair :umm2:.

But, that ALSO shouldn't be the case - any parent's concerns should be taken seriously, especially those who are unsure and seeking advice. People are just palmed off for months or years. A workmate of mine (who has a son with Aspergers, now aged 21) didn't get a diagnosis until he was nearly 10, by which point he had already had countless educational issues. By that point it's almost impossible to get the best outcome.

I could've done with your missus on my side :) Had to parade in front of countless bods all through school, none had a clue. As he could read they weren't bothered that he couldn't write :/
Anyhoo won't bore you on here but it was hell.

Sighs...its depressing stuff to read Kizzy and TS but I'm not at all surprised and I don't blame either of you for thinking about/going private. At least you know you and your loved ones are in safe hands.

I just wish more people were aware of what's going on. When I try and explain to people, I'm sure they think I'm spreading some sort of conspiracy.

sounds like your anti tory hate is clouding your objectivity. take each issue on merit.:spin:

I must live in an exceptionally lucky area.
My problem is the oppsite, every month there is some note or other to be picked up with my script, to see this person or that person, see the nurse, phone the doctor, go for tests or yet another pee in a bottle.
Have a routine check at the hospital and the next thing I know I am told some other dept would like to see me.
I asked for an OT referral by phone to my doctor and heard from them within a week, had home visit more or less straight away with a follow up and equipment installed.
It really saddens me to hear that this is not the norm for all. Is it some sort of postcode lottery?

That's a lie.:nono:
I am saying the EXACT OPPOSITE TO YOUR DISINGENUOUS TWISTING OF MY WORDS
people should look at this objectively regardless of party politics, whether you hate socialism or hate the tories
in this instant, the tories are in the right and labour are hopelessly wrong
all I care about is the best result for the patients and the best result is hunts contract

yet another dishonest post, shame on you
junior doctors go all the way up to those with 5 to 15 years experience
of course they save lives? what the heck do you think they are for?

labour throw billions and it got worse, its not money its better organization and individual responsibility. I suppose you recall the 1000s who starved or died of thirst in nhs wards under new labours watch, or the 25000 a year who died of undiagnosed blood clots per year under labours watch, or the mass growth in wages for the bosses and the mass growth of administraters and managers under labours watch, or the billions worth of equipment never used under labours watch, that's why European hospitals were up to 50 times less likely to get mrsa under new labour

labour never solve it because theyre too scared to upset the unions and risk losing votes

a lot of occupational therapists are frankly useless.

:laugh: LMFAO. MY "anti-Tory hate???????????? That's the first time I've ever been accused of HATING the TORIES - on here or in the real world. I am usually accused of hating on the Left-Wing, which I do not anyway, but have you read any of my posts?

:shrug:

Before you call me a liar and get your panties in a wad, I'll have you know that I was an out and out LD supporter before the coalition. I supported the one party that was going to stop the sell off of the NHS. Unfortunately Clegg jumped in between the sheets with David Cameron during the coalition and consequently lost a lot of votes, including mine.

You can't have a debate by trying to bully your way through it. Suggesting that Labour did all this is laughable because we all know about the appalling way Labour treated the NHS but they were on the same mission Cameron's on now. Labour failed its British public just as the Conservatives presently fail the British public.

Edited to add: you claim you only care about the patients and yet you've only done Tory right research and you believe it all.

The man deserves a pat on the back considering the unions have been dithering over this for 4 years now. ****ing get on with it you moaning doctor *****.

You lied in your previous posts.

Oh here comes the bully word for people who disagree and out you for lying.
zzzzzzzz

Again you lie, Ive not done ONLY tory right research

You need to refocus and go visit some sick people on hospital wards on the weekends and really study them closely to see how neglected a lot of them are. Youd be lucky to even get scanned in many hospitals on the weekend

the real problems is the majority of junior doctors don't want to work weekends, the minority don't mind and they were getting double time for it. it has to be made a compulsory part of every doctors timetable.

You realise there's A LOT more to these contract changes than mandatory weekend work, right?

go and have a word with yourself. If your not lucky enough to get scanned at the weekend its hardly the doctors fault.

Are radiologists and consultants subject to this re-structuring of contracts, is mortality not affected by them?

I am thinking the next on the list is consultants..good luck with that one.
If the hospitals and surgeries are to be open 24/7 then it makes sense that ALL of it needs to be open and in full working order.

this is yet another of your answers that makes no sense
1000s more die because they get a substandard skeleton staff service at weekends, FACT. YOU don't seem to care about that, I do.
It matters not whose fault it is to the patient, the end result is all that matters to them.
the fact is its a collective failure to have a proper weekend service. not the tories have had the bottle to address it thankfully. labour need to stop sucking up to the unions now and stop arguing against it and fight for how best to now achieve it. staggered rota systems for everyone are inevitable.
they can be smart now by admitting its essential but at the same time fight to keep it public

I'm going to ask again Truth since you seem to be flat out ignoring the question:

You are aware that there's much more to the dispute than weekend working, RIGHT?

You clearly haven't read my earlier posts on here because if you had, you would of read what I wrote about skeleton consultants, skeleton diagnostics and skeleton admin staff. Put all the junior doctors on weekends but without the others their hands are tied and people will still die from lack of staff at the weekend.

If the government had put a staggered rota system in for everyone then the problem would of been solved but they haven't have they?

Well exactly, even the things Truth is talking about, such as MRSA and neglect of patients everyday needs (which does happen, that much is true) would be solved by having higher staffing levels for cleaning and things like general health care. Most of the neglect is really simple things - like people being left thirsty or uncomfortable or just unnoticed. You don't need doctors or even nurses working longer hours to tackle these issues... You need a higher level of basic staff presence, period.

totally agree with your last few sentences......quite how that hasn't happened simultaneously is a total mystery. you have to stagger it all of course. some say that will happen next. some have suggested this will follow, but its not been made that clear and hunt has undoubtedly made a pigs ear out of it all. even though I do agree with the tories premise to make it 24/7 staggered system on continental work patterns

Well well well.... :)

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jeremy-hunt-forced-humiliating-admission-7781987#rlabs=7%20rt$category%20p$4

It seems he might not have the legal right to force the contracts on the staff.

Personally I think it is the start of some kind of government U-turn on the whole Doctors contract mess the man himself help create.