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Psychiatry-UK
2023-08-09
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Written by a NHS patient
Written by a NHS patient 9th August 2023
My experience with Dr Gupta wasn't ideal in my opinion.
Whilst I got the diagnosis I was expecting and the overall ADHD right to choose referral period was quick and efficient with Psychiatry UK, I felt very rushed during the online appointment and as though I was just being asked questions from a form.
This was an adult ADHD assessment and I wasn't given time to articulate or detail my experiences clearly and was constantly told 'These are just words, you need to give me examples', which I understand, but as somebody who has experienced these symptoms for decades it's hard to choose one or two examples as these are constant everyday experiences.
The more rushed I was, the harder it became for me to answer questions as my brain struggled to describe and answer the way the doctor wanted me to. It didn't feel very accommodating for a neurodivergent person.
For comparison, my initial referral phone call with the mental health nurse at my GP was far more relaxed and felt conversational as I was able to talk about my symptoms and experiences in detail rather than 'just give examples'.
However, I am very pleased that I have a diagnosis and the overall experience with Psychiatry UK has been smooth.
15th August 2023
Response from Psychiatry-UK
Thank you for leaving a review to let us know about your experience with our service. Our assessments follow a strict process to ensure that each of the criteria of the DSM-5 are met, in order to determine whether an ADHD diagnosis can be made. Since the assessment is time-limited, the consultant takes time before the assessment to familiarise themselves with the information provided by the patient, and a close family member, friend or professional (‘informant’) in the pre-assessment forms. These include details of any problems that impede the patient’s daily living activities, both as an adult and at an early age, and prevent them from achieving ‘their best life’. This preparation allows the consultant to focus on clarifying or developing the information provided during the assessment itself. This might involve asking the patient to describe particular experiences more fully by providing examples, or asking any additional questions needed to reach an accurate diagnosis. Although we cannot look into individual cases on this platform, we do have a dedicated Patient Experience Team, who would be happy to discuss your experience in more detail. If you feel this would be beneficial, please do get in touch at: experience@psychiatry-uk.com. In the meantime, we are pleased that your experience overall has been smooth and we wish you the best of luck in your onward journey.