13Autism 6-Week Follow-Up

Purpose

Offering, booking and closing out the 6-week follow-up appointment that every diagnosed autism patient receives.

Procedure

1. Add the patient to the 6-week follow-up tab with NHS number, date of assessment and referral stream.
2. Record the date the offer letter is due to be sent, then the date it is actually sent.
3. Record the expiry date of the letter - the point at which the offer of the appointment lapses.
4. Record which practitioner is booked and the date the follow-up is booked.
5. After the appointment, the appointment is written up.
6. Send the 12-week diagnosis letter and record the date.
7. Send the discharge letter and the letter to the GP, recording the dates.
8. Set Pathway complete = Yes and filter out.

Fields recorded

NHS number · date of assessment · date letter due · date letter sent · letter expiry date · practitioner booked · date follow-up booked · referral stream · appointment written up · 12-week diagnosis letter sent · date sent to GP · discharge letter sent · pathway complete

Notes

• This pathway ends in discharge for every patient - it is the closing stage of the autism journey.

Open points

• What happens if the offer letter expires with no response - whether the patient is chased or moves straight to the 12-week stage.
• Whether the follow-up must be with the diagnosing practitioner.

Flowchart