Why can’t we have an online / video consultation?

For the first assessment appointment I do insist on a F2F meeting. Perhaps I’m a bit old fashioned but I find that F2F meetings are a lot smoother, allows me to talk and observe your child especially regarding non-verbal communication, minimises distraction and allows me to complete a physical examination. Some children with ADHD can find talking to someone on a screen as a novelty and as such may pay attention and be focused but this is not a true reflection of real life. This can be said of a F2F assessment but often you can see the change in the child’s behaviour during the consultation.

However, the most important aspect I value is building a genuine relationship with you and your child, that may well continue long after that first meeting, and I believe this is best done by meeting properly.

Online assessments may be more convenient for the parent and child (in terms of travelling etc) but in most cases the service that is offering online assessments the focus is not on quality and being holistic and comprehensive in assessment but for rapid turnover and profit.

Many are just focused on ADHD without due consideration for other possible causes or contributory factors. Also there is an over reliance on scripted interviews and tick box mentality regarding rating scales completed by parent and teacher (they are important of course but should be guiding not dictating) and less on clinical judgement based on the young persons lived experience. The latter is particularly crucial in girls that mask and internalise with less ‘visible traits’.

Unfortunately many NHS services are copying this online rapid turnover model which in my opinion is a mistake. NHS assessment and diagnosis ‘gold standard’ ? I’m not sure anymore.

I would prefer seeing less numbers but more quality time with you and your child. I only see 2-3 children per day.

I would not trust any service that does not including talking to your child as part of the assessment. Unfortunately based on parents I have recently talked to about their experiences both in the NHS and online services this doesn’t always happen.

Regardless of which assessment model is used what is crucial is the experience of the person conducting the assessment.

Fees

Neurodevelopmental assessments are both time and resource-intensive. They are quite different from an assessment for a cough or tummy ache. A new neurodevelopmental assessment with me takes around 4-5 hours of work, including a 90 minute face-to-face appointment.

It’s also important to recognise that the fees reflect not only my professional qualifications, experience, and expertise but also include significant overhead costs such as clinic room rent, administration, professional indemnity, training, and travel, which are necessary to ensure quality patient care in private practice.

Presently, after the first appointment, I do not charge for an occasional email enquiry that requires just a brief reply. However, requests to review documents and reports, address queries from GP / other professionals and short additional letters (example for travel), the fee for this extra work will be charged at £50 per enquiry/email/letter.

Will my insurance cover my visit?

At the moment I do no work with any private health insurance companies. If your insurance provider is able to cover costs you will need to pay us directly and then claim back from your insurer. I am really sorry for the inconvenience.  

Can I have a same day or urgent appointment?

At the moment, my Liverpool clinic runs on Thursdays and Fridays and Birmingham Clinic occasional Saturdays. My waiting list is around 1-2 weeks.
I may be able to see an urgent referral on another day but this cannot be guaranteed as I have NHS and Court commitments and depends on room availability.

What if I need to cancel the appointment?

This is perfectly ok, as long as you notify at least 48 hours in advance. Please let me know as soon as you can at booking@manchesterpaediatrician.com.

Presently I don't have an auto-refund service, but I will manually refund, typically within 5 working days. 

Unfortunately, appointments cancelled less than 48 hours notice will be charged at 100% of the full fee. 

If you are running late please let me know as soon as possible. If you arrive more than 10 minutes late I may not be able to see you or at least the appointment will have to be cut short. See T&C's for more details. 

Can I still see a specialist on the NHS?

Yes of course. At your request I can transfer your child's care to the local NHS specialist team, via the GP, or alternatively, continue to provide care alongside the NHS team.

FASD Assessment