Bupa Specialist Children and Young People’s Mental Health Assessment: What to Expect

Before we can register your child with our Specialist Adult Mental Health Service, we’ll need to validate your Bupa pre-authorisation code. 

Once your code has been validated, we’ll create a patient record and send you a welcome email. This email will explain how to set up your MedQare patient portal account. 

Your MedQare portal is the secure platform we use to communicate with you throughout your care.

You’ll use it to: 

• view and update your patient profile
• complete pre-assessment forms
• manage appointments
• receive messages and updates from our team 

Please check your portal regularly, as we’ll use it to let you know if we need any additional information from you. 

You may find it helpful to share our Information for Families and Carers leaflet with someone you trust. 

This leaflet explains how family members and carers can support someone experiencing mental health difficulties, what they can do if they’re concerned that your mental health is deteriorating, and where to find additional information and support. 

With your consent, family members and carers can also book a 25-minute appointment with one of our psychiatrists. There is a fee of £180 for this appointment.

This gives them an opportunity to discuss any concerns they may have, ask questions about your care, and receive general guidance about supporting you.

Before you can book your child’s assessment, we’ll ask you to complete a short list of tasks that we refer to as your pre-assessment checklist.

This ensures that we have everything we need before your appointment and gives your consultant the information they need to prepare for your child’s assessment.

Complete your pre-assessment checklist

Your checklist includes the following steps:

1. Make sure we have your child’s medical summary

When you register with us, we ask your GP practice to provide us with a copy of your child’s medical summary.

As we are a private provider, GP practices are not required to send this information to us. Some practices will only release the medical summary directly to the patient, their parents or guardian.

If we don’t receive the medical summary from your GP practice, please request a copy and forward to us.

Where available, you may be able to download the medical summary from the NHS App. If this isn’t possible, you can request a copy directly from your GP practice.

Once you have it, you can upload it to your MedQare portal or email it to us at bupa.admin@psychiatry-uk.com.

2. Check your profile details

Go to the My Profile section of your MedQare portal and make sure your information is accurate and up to date.

3. Verify your identity

ID verification is required before we can carry out your online assessment.

Upload your child’s photographic ID and proof of address through the ID Verification tab within My Profile.

You’ll need to provide:

• photographic ID (for example, a passport or driving licence)
• proof of address (for example, a utility bill or bank statement)

You can check our acceptable forms of ID page or watch our video guide for more information.

4. Complete your pre-assessment forms

These forms help your consultant understand your child’s medical history, current symptoms and how they’ve been feeling recently.

We’ll ask you to complete the following forms:

• Children and Young People’s Medical History Form 
•  Developmental History Form  
• RCADS Child Questionnaire  
• RCADS Parent Questionnaire  
• Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Self 11-17)  
• Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Parent/Carer 4-17)  
• Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Teacher 4-17) 

Some forms are for you to complete as the parent or guardian. Some forms ask for your child’s views. The teacher form helps us understand how your child is managing in an education setting. 

The information you provide will help the consultant understand your child‘s needs and prepare for the appointment. 

Your pre-assessment forms help your consultant build a clear understanding of your child’s current needs before their appointment.

They may ask about:

• their current mental health and wellbeing
• their symptoms and how they affect their daily life
• their medical history
• any medication they take
• any previous treatment, support or diagnoses
• any risk, safety or safeguarding concerns

We recommend setting aside some quiet time to complete your forms. Providing as much information as you can will help your consultant prepare for your child’s assessment.

Once you’ve answered all the questions, your portal will show the form as 100% complete. Please make sure you select Submit to send your completed forms to us.

When you have completed your pre-assessment checklist, we’ll send you a booking link by email and text message.

You can use this link to:

• view available appointment times
• read consultant profiles
• choose the consultant and appointment time that best suits you

Your booking link will remain active for 21 days. If it expires before you’ve booked an appointment, we’ll send you a replacement link, provided your Bupa pre-authorisation code is still valid.

Please note that your Bupa pre-authorisation code is only valid for a limited period. If you do not book your child’s assessment before your pre-authorisation code expires, we will be unable to proceed with your assessment.

Your appointment will take place online by video call using Microsoft Teams.

For the best experience, we recommend:

• using the Microsoft Teams app (you don’t need a Microsoft account); or
• if you’re joining through a web browser, using the latest version of Microsoft Edge.

Before your appointment, we recommend testing your device, using the link on our website, to make sure your camera, microphone and internet connection are working correctly.

You’ll need:

• a computer, laptop or tablet with a working camera and microphone
• a stable internet connection
• a quiet, private space where you can speak openly

If you experience any technical problems at the time of your appointment, your consultant will call you. Please make sure you have your mobile phone with you.

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please read our Booking, Cancellations and Non-attendance (DNA) Policy. 

Please be aware that if you miss your appointment, or ask to cancel within 48 hours of the appointment time, this will be recorded as a Non-attendance (DNA). If you miss two appointments within a single episode of care, your referral will be closed and you will need to speak to the Bupa team to discuss your options.

To cancel your appointment, sign in to your patient portal and open the Appointments section. Select the appointment you wish to cancel, then select Cancel Appointment and confirm your cancellation.

If you’d like to book a different appointment, select Cancel Appointment, then Send new booking link. We’ll automatically send you a new booking link so that you can choose another available appointment.

Once you’ve booked your new appointment, we’ll send you a confirmation email with the details of your appointment.

Your child’s assessment will usually last between 50 minutes and one hour and will take place online using Microsoft Teams.

Before your appointment, please:

• find a quiet, private space where you feel comfortable talking
• have your child’s photographic ID ready
• keep your mobile phone nearby in case your consultant needs to contact you

At the start of your appointment, your consultant will introduce themselves and explain how the assessment will work.

They will also:

• check your child’s photographic ID
• confirm some key details with you
• ask whether you’re happy for the assessment to be recorded (you can choose not to be recorded)

Written notes will always be taken for your child’s patient record.

During the assessment, please keep your camera switched on, as observation forms an important part of the assessment process.

Your consultant will ask about your child’s current difficulties, their mental health, their medical history, and any previous treatment or support they’ve received. They may also ask about:

• their mood and anxiety
• their sleep, appetite and energy levels
• their relationships and support network
• their work, education or daily routine
• any medication they take
• any risk or safety concerns

Some of the questions may feel personal. Your consultant will ask these sensitively so they can understand your child’s needs and recommend the most appropriate next steps.

If you find a question difficult or uncomfortable, please let your consultant know.

We want you and your child to feel as comfortable as possible during the assessment.

If you need any communication support or practical adjustments, please let us know as early as possible before the appointment.

This may include:

• extra time to process information
• questions being repeated or rephrased
• written prompts or clearer instructions
• adjustments for sensory, communication or learning needs
• support for Deaf or hard of hearing patients

You can find out more in our Accessible Communications and Assessments leaflet.

Under your Bupa cover, you’re entitled to up to six review appointments during each policy year.

Before booking each review appointment with Psychiatry UK, you’ll need to obtain a new pre-authorisation code from Bupa. Please contact Bupa to request a new code before arranging your appointment.

If your consultant recommends medication, this will be managed separately from your child’s Bupa-funded review appointments.

We’ll set up a new self-funded medication pathway and contact you when we’re ready to issue the prescription.

Please note that the cost of medication and prescriptions is not covered by your Bupa policy and will be charged separately.