What should you consider before making a decision?

The cost - We do not  accept Insured patients. Therefore, it is important to consider not just the cost of the initial assessment but also the on-going cost of the treatment (if this is applicable). We will discuss this with you in a clear manner so you can make an informed choice.

Whether virtual appointments are for you and acceptable to your child or young person. 

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Your care and treatment with the NHS - If you are getting private treatment, you could still get NHS care but the NHS is very unlikely to offer the same treatment. This is so that the patients do not get the same treatment twice. While, it is perfectly appropriate to receive private psychiatric care and for the NHS to offer psychological treatment, this really depends on their service threshold and may refuse a referral even if we feel your child/young person needs it. We will write to your child’s GP to update them.

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Whether the person you see is accredited or registered - If you decide to see someone who offers private mental healthcare, you should ask them about their qualifications and accreditations. At Animo Health all professionals have the right accreditations and registrations. 

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The quality of service - All assessments and treatment should following evidence based recommendation, such as those recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.  We follow these guidelines and we will explain more during the appointments. 

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Getting a private second opinion accepted by the NHS - You might decide to ask for a second opinion. Some NHS services do not have to accept a second opinion which has done privately, so you should check with your NHS team first. Animo Health assessment are robust and done as per national guidelines and we already work with many GP services, Local Authorities and schools across the country.