MURDER!
I was initially diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at Elliott House in 2000. I took an I.Q. test, and the expert, Lorna Wing (now deceased) took an hour to deliberate the diagnosis. Call it here-say, but she seemed rather infuriated.
Furthermore, around this period, soon after my case opened with Social Services, my first Social Worker, Ken James, insisted to my parents at a meeting where I was present, that I had Tourettes. He recommended 6 weeks of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and thought a Social Services placement 'inappropriate'. He thought I may be a controlled alcoholic and also thought non-professional support from my parents may help.
I have asked my previous Social Worker, Melissa McAuliffe, with Newham Asperger's Team, to find any old case notes where this may have been recorded. I also have briefly contacted East London N.H.S. Trust on a couple of occasions but is this a dead lead, if nothing were ever documented? Why no action was taken by any previous Social Worker if they had read this in case notes?
Moreover, my diagnosis has since been corroborated by 4 experts, including Dr. O' Brady (Head of Newham Asperger's Team) a Dr. Shah (who I saw years ago for a one-day consultation) and Dr. Lahuwallah (who has assessed me twice at home for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard.)
I have contacted various organisations for a re-diagnosis to no avail. Most recently, I contacted South London & Maudsley hospital. I was also told the diagnosis may cost approximately ￡1800 (so I would at least need a quote first.)
Unfortunately, they only offer this service to residents in their borough (Lewisham) or three neighbouring boroughs.
If I have been misdiagnosed, I can take my case to a Medical Negligence solicitor and have made enquiries regarding this. A firm called Hodge, Jones & Allen were rather helpful.
If not, the most recent advice was that Newham Social Services have a Complaints Team. I would essentially contest the case length. When you consider that the average case in Mainstream Adult care is 2 - 3 years - a fact I found out years after my case opened!
Has it really been this long even with alcohol dependence, and related incidents of hospital sectioning, being reported missing to police, etc.?
Then I suppose there is also the liability of independent living related to this.
Finally, if you are unable to help me, could you possibly recommend another organisation - I essentially need a re-assessment of my Mental Health diagnosis.
Many thanks,
Robin Baldwin