What i have found over the period of some time is that NHS dependant where you are is so against us and treats us like idiots and they are so rude to us down the phone, With the NHS take your orthotics department they still don't get it that there is no need to shout, i am not deaf mind you the way things being what they are i might just as well be.
There is of cause so much to this because what they hate is that we are direct, however the minute that you inform them that you are High Functioning Autistic they either go and hide or at least it seems like it. There are then these so called know all people and you probably known to whom i am speaking about, " they state there is no such thing as High or low Functioning autistic, but there is, have they heard of the Autistic spectrum, perhaps it is about time they went and read it or refreshed their brains, honestly it is so insulting to be undermined.
I can also identify with gaps in service provision right across the UK for other conditions that may come into conflict with Autism, such as ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Tourette's and this all about the balance at getting the final referral then dealing with thee so called expert who may decide to not diagnose the actual condition that you want and instead diagnose Anxiety, which is no diagnosis and instead puts you into a class of going no-where fast , a sort of holding cell for people they are not sure of, yes i have been there no nice.
Take my situation i have Complex PTSD and i am not getting the right treatment from the mental health trust to the point that through independent advise i have decided to take them to the Health Ombudsman, honestly it is so stressful.
You then approach your social service department and you get no extra help just additional hours added to your direct payment and as for Continuing Health my advise is don't bother yourself, just a get a GP referral but this will take months. By the end of all this we begin not to trust the system and become cynical of go with oh yes whatever because we know we are going to be treated like something cat brought in.
