NHS vs Private ADHD Assessment: 12 Key Differences Explained

Let’s talk about the differences between an NHS vs Private ADHD assessment in the UK.

ADHD affects more people than you might think. Right now, 4 out of 100 people in the UK have ADHD. Many adults who have it don’t know yet. Those who do often face other mental health challenges too – about three in four adults with ADHD, actually.

Getting an ADHD assessment as an adult isn’t always straightforward. Yes, the NHS offers free assessments, but you might wait quite a while. Private clinics can see you sooner, though they’ll charge for it. Both options need careful thinking about.

We’ve put together this guide to help you understand your choices. You’ll learn about NHS and private assessment routes, what actually happens during an assessment, and how to get ready for one. Whether you’re just wondering about ADHD or ready to book an assessment, we’ll help you figure out your next steps.

Think of this as your friendly roadmap to ADHD assessment in the UK. We’ll walk you through everything – no confusing medical speak, just clear information about what you need to know.

Understanding ADHD Assessment Options in the UK

Let’s look at your three main choices for ADHD assessment: NHS standard referral, NHS Right to Choose, and private assessment. Each works differently, and you’ll want to know exactly what you’re getting into.

NHS vs Private ADHD Assessment: Key Differences

The NHS route is free – that’s the big one. You’ll need your GP to refer you, and you’ll see specialist psychiatrists, psychologists, or qualified healthcare professionals for your assessment [17].

Private clinics work differently. They’re quicker but cost money.

Here’s what you need to know about private assessment costs in 2024:

Adult assessment: £1,200 on average
Children’s assessment: £1,361
Total average cost: £1,267 [1]

Want to meet your specialist face-to-face? That’ll cost about 9% more than online appointments [1].

How long is the waiting list for an NHS ADHD Assessment?

Right now, 196,000 adults are waiting for NHS ADHD assessments [17]. The BBC found something quite shocking – half of NHS services would take at least eight years to clear their current backlogs [17].

Here’s how long you might wait:

Shortest NHS wait: 12 weeks (Dorset Healthcare)
Longest NHS wait: 550 weeks (Herefordshire and Worcestershire) [17]

Private clinics move faster. Average waiting times look like this:

Wales: 25 days
East Midlands: 61 days
Scotland: 71 days
UK average: 43 days [1]

Living in England? The NHS Right to Choose scheme might help. You can pick your mental healthcare provider, which could mean shorter waiting times [7]. Some private clinics even take NHS-funded referrals through this scheme, though it depends where you live.

Money matters for private assessment don’t stop at the first appointment. Follow-up visits cost about £173 each [1]. During medication adjustment periods, expect monthly titration fees around £80 [2]. Remember to check if your GP will agree to shared care – this affects your long-term costs.

How to Choose Between NHS vs Private ADHD Assessment

Let’s figure out which assessment route suits you best. NHS and private pathways each have their strong points – it’s about matching them to your situation.

When to Consider Private Assessment

Private assessment might be your best bet if you need quick answers. You won’t need a GP referral to see a specialist [2]. That’s particularly helpful if you’re working and need assessment results soon.

Remember: Private clinics typically see you within 43 days [7]. Compare that to NHS waiting lists – some regions have people waiting over four years [8].

Private assessment makes sense when:

ADHD symptoms seriously affect your daily life
You need workplace support quickly
You’d like to pick your specialist
You want flexible appointment times
You can handle the upfront costs

Here’s something crucial: Before booking private assessment, check if your GP will agree to shared care [9]. This agreement lets you get NHS prescriptions after private diagnosis, helping with long-term costs.

When NHS Assessment Might Be Better than Private ADHD Assessments

The NHS route shines when you’re thinking more about cost than speed. You’ll get comprehensive care that’s fully funded [2].

The process starts with your GP having a look, then referring you to specialists if needed [3]. NHS assessment works well if you:

Want to avoid assessment costs
Don’t mind waiting longer
Prefer having everything under one healthcare roof

The NHS offers something special – smooth connections with local support services [10]. That means easier access to things like occupational therapy or counselling. Plus, your long-term care stays nicely coordinated within your local NHS system.

Thinking about medication? The NHS path might be simpler. Private diagnosis needs careful planning with shared care agreements – some GPs aren’t keen on accepting private assessment results [1]. That’s why it’s smart to chat with your GP first about your plans.

How to get an NHS ADHD Assessment

Let’s walk through the steps to get your ADHD assessment sorted. Whether you’re choosing NHS or private routes, knowing what to do makes everything smoother.

GP Referral Process

First up – book a 10-minute chat with your GP about your concerns. Remember: Your GP can’t diagnose ADHD themselves, but they’re your ticket to specialist help [11].

Got children? GPs usually want a 10-week watchful waiting period before sending you to specialists [12]. After watching and waiting, they might suggest parent training groups or move ahead with the referral.

What if your GP says no to a referral? Here’s what you can do:

Ask to see another doctor at the same practice
Switch to a different GP practice
Talk to ADHD support organisations
Look into private assessment (if you can manage the cost)

How to get a Private ADHD Assessment

Private clinics give you choices – see someone face-to-face or chat over video [13]. Prices start at £795 for adults and £1,395 for children [14].

Here’s something crucial: Check if your specialist is registered with the General Medical Council. Also, ask your GP about shared care agreements for medication management [13].

Most private assessments take 60 to 90 minutes, and you’ll usually get your report within a couple of weeks [14]. Some clinics offer longer sessions – anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours [1].

Required Documentation

Getting your paperwork ready? The specialist needs quite a bit:

Your medical history
School or academic records
Examples of childhood behaviours
Details about current challenges
Notes from family members or partners [1]

For children’s assessments, schools or nurseries need to fill out special forms [15]. Need an interpreter? They can sort that out – whether it’s for another language or British Sign Language.

The specialist will want to know all about your medical history and current struggles with things like concentration, hyperactivity, and impulsivity [1]. They might also chat with people who know you well – partners, parents, siblings – to get the full picture [16].

What Happens During an ADHD Assessment: NHS vs Private ADHD Assessment

Let’s talk about what actually happens when you meet your ADHD specialist. Understanding the process helps calm those pre-assessment nerves.

Initial Consultation

Your first meeting focuses on getting to know you and your experiences. The specialist will chat about your challenges with concentration, hyperactivity, and impulsivity [1]. They’ll look through your medical history and check for other conditions that might cause similar experiences.

Remember: Your specialist needs the full picture. They might want to speak with people who know you well – partners, parents, or others in your life [1]. For children’s assessments, they’ll pay special attention to how the child communicates, interacts, and behaves [4].

Assessment Methods

The specialist uses different ways to understand your experiences:

Friendly chats about your history and current challenges
Special questionnaires and rating scales
Watching how you interact and behave
Looking at your medical and mental health history
Reading reports from teachers, family, or colleagues [13]

Here’s something important: While the specialist uses standard tests and scales, these alone can’t confirm ADHD [13]. That’s why they’ll spend time understanding how potential ADHD touches different parts of your life – your work, relationships, and daily routines.

Duration and Format

How long will it take? Well, that depends. NHS assessments typically last between 90 minutes to 3 hours [1]. Private ones might be one to beyond 4 hours [17]. Some clinics break this into smaller chunks.

You might meet in person or over video – whatever works best. For video sessions, keep your camera on and have some photo ID ready [2]. Your specialist will make sure they cover everything needed for a proper diagnosis.

At the end, you’ll hear what they’ve found and what might happen next. Sometimes they need more information or extra appointments before making a final decision [2]. Don’t worry – you’ll get a detailed report to share with your GP [1].

How to Prepare for ADHD Assessment

Getting ready for your ADHD assessment? Let’s make sure you’ve got everything sorted.

Essential Documents to Gather

Your specialist needs a good look at your life experiences and challenges. Here’s what to round up:

Medical history records and current medication details [18]
School reports or academic records showing early life patterns
Examples of workplace challenges or achievements
Notes about daily life experiences and difficulties [19]
Reports or observations from family members, teachers, or colleagues [20]

Remember: Better to take your time gathering everything than to show up with half the story. Your specialist might send you some extra forms before you meet – questionnaires and rating scales to fill out [18]. These help paint the full picture of your experiences.

Questions to Ask Your Assessor

Smart questions help you understand what’s ahead. Pop these on your list:

What assessment methods do you use?
How long does the whole thing take? [3]
How do you look at childhood experiences?
What treatments might be available if I’m diagnosed?
What happens after the assessment? [21]

Once you book, you’ll get some forms to fill in. These give your specialist a head start in understanding your situation [22]. Fill them in properly – every bit helps.

For video assessments, sort out:

A quiet room where nobody will interrupt
Good internet connection
Photo ID
All your completed forms [2]

Need an interpreter? Just say so. They’ll sort out professional help for other languages or British Sign Language [15]. That way, you won’t miss anything important during your assessment.

What do they ask in an ADHD Assessment – Questions Explained

Feeling nervous about what questions you’ll face? Let’s walk through the three main areas your specialist will explore.

Childhood Experiences

Your specialist starts by looking at your early years. They’ll ask about your developmental milestones – when you started walking, talking, that sort of thing [23].

Here’s what they’re keen to know about:

How you did at school and what learning was like
Making friends and getting along with others
Whether ADHD runs in your family
Early challenges and how you handled them

Remember: They’ll want to see school records and childhood behavioural reports [3]. They might also chat with your parents or others who knew you as a child to get the full picture.

Current Challenges

Now for the present day. Your specialist will look at interesting patterns – like how well you focus on things you love versus everyday tasks [24]. They’ll check if you can:

Keep your mind on different activities
Sort out tasks and manage your time
Remember the important stuff
Follow instructions from start to finish

Here’s something important: They’ll want to know how these challenges pop up in different places – at work, home, or when you’re out with friends [3].

Impact on Daily Life

This bit looks at how potential ADHD touches your everyday life. Your specialist will explore:

Work Life: They’ll ask about your job performance and career journey [25]. Expect questions about meeting deadlines and keeping your workspace tidy.

Relationships: They’ll look at how attention and organisation affect your connections with others [25]. Think friendship patterns, family life, household tasks – that sort of thing.

Daily Routines: Your specialist needs to know about:

How you manage your time
Keeping spaces organised
Handling money and bills
Getting household jobs done

Remember: These challenges need to show up in different parts of your life for an ADHD diagnosis [3]. They’ll also check if these started before you turned 12 – that’s quite important [3].

Your specialist will keep an eye out for other things that might explain your experiences [26]. That’s why they might ask about anxiety, depression, or other mental health bits – they want to get it right.

Post-Assessment Process

Let’s look at what happens after your ADHD assessment. The journey doesn’t stop at diagnosis – there’s quite a bit more to explore.

Understanding Your Results

Your specialist will sit down with you to chat about their findings and give you a detailed report. The report tells you whether you meet the ADHD criteria [3]. ADHD comes in different types:

Mostly hyperactive/impulsive
Mostly inattentive
A mix of both
Other specified/unspecified types [27]

Remember: Getting an ADHD diagnosis stirs up different feelings for everyone. Many adults feel relieved to finally understand their challenges. Others need time to process the news – that’s perfectly normal [11]. Your specialist’s report usually pops up in your patient portal 4 to 6 weeks after the assessment [2].

Treatment Options

Once you’ve got your diagnosis, your healthcare team creates a treatment plan just for you. They might suggest medication as part of a bigger plan that looks after your psychological, behavioural, and educational needs [5].

Your specialist might talk about these medications:

Methylphenidate (usually the first choice for adults)
Lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse)
Atomoxetine (Strattera)
Dexamfetamine (Amfexa) [28]

Don’t fancy medication? Here are other options:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Help with education
Changes to your daily routine
Mindfulness therapy [28]

Follow-up Care

After diagnosis, you’ll get regular check-ups and support. Your first review usually happens within a month of finishing any education courses [29]. Your specialist checks:

How you’re managing challenges
How well medication works (if you’re taking any)
Changes to your environment
Sleep patterns
Your mood and general wellbeing [29]

Taking medication? You’ll have check-ups every 2-4 weeks at first, then every 3 months [29]. These visits help spot any side effects and make sure the treatment’s working. Your healthcare team keeps an eye on things like blood pressure, pulse, height, and weight [29].

You’ll need a proper review at least once a year to look at:

How medication helps (or doesn’t)
Effects on work or studies
Whether you need more support
Impact on other health conditions [5]

Your specialist might suggest extra help like occupational therapy, mental health nursing, or psychology [29]. For young people nearly 18, they start planning early to make moving to adult services nice and smooth [29].

ADHD Medication Options

Now, let’s get into the different types of medications.

Types of Medications Available

The NHS offers five different medications for ADHD [31]. They come in two main types:

Stimulant Medications:

Methylphenidate (doctors usually try this first)
Lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse)
Dexamfetamine (Amfexa)

Non-stimulant Options:

Atomoxetine (Strattera)
Guanfacine (Intuniv)

Remember: Stimulant medications work by boosting certain brain chemicals called dopamine and norepinephrine [30]. Right now, you can get Atomoxetine capsules (10mg to 100mg) and Elvanse capsules (20mg to 70mg) in all strengths in the UK [32].

What to Expect

Everyone responds differently to ADHD medication. The good news? Studies show stimulants help about 80% of children manage their challenges better [30]. While these medications aren’t a permanent fix, they can help you:

Focus better
Control impulses
Plan things out
Get tasks done

Your doctor will start you on a small dose and slowly increase it until it’s just right [33]. You might need to try different medications before finding your perfect match.

Here’s something to keep in mind – you might notice:

Less appetite
Weight changes
Sleep becoming tricky
Small changes in blood pressure and heart rate [30]

Monitoring Progress

Your healthcare team keeps a close eye on how you’re doing. The first 3-6 months (called the titration period) need extra attention [6]. They’ll check:

Physical Bits:

Heart rate and blood pressure (every 6 months)
Weight and height
How well you’re sleeping
Your general wellbeing

Taking methylphenidate? You’ll need a short break once a year to see if you still need it [6]. Your doctor might ask you to keep a medication diary too.

Here’s when you’ll see your doctor:

Every week at first
Monthly while adjusting doses
Every 3 months once settled
Once a year for a big check-up [6]

Partners and parents often help by noting down how the medication’s working [6].

Remember: If you’re starting stimulant medication, you might need a heart test (EKG) first [30]. Some areas have special rules about how much medication you can get at once.

Don’t get on with stimulants? Non-stimulant medications like atomoxetine might be your thing [30]. They take longer to work but might suit you better. Sometimes, your doctor might suggest using different medications together.

Is a Private ADHD Assessment Worth It in the UK?

ADHD assessment comes with choices. The NHS offers free, thorough care – but you might wait quite a while. Some regions have waiting lists stretching past four years. Private assessment gets you seen faster, though you’ll need to think about costs and chat with your GP first.

Remember: Good preparation matters whichever path you choose. Sort out your paperwork, understand what happens during assessment, and write down questions for your specialist. These simple steps make everything smoother.

Which route suits you best? Well, that depends on your situation. Private assessment might make sense if ADHD seriously affects your daily life and you need answers soon. The NHS route works brilliantly if you’re happy to wait and want everything connected within one system.

Here’s something important: Getting assessed is just the start. What comes after – the medication options, regular check-ups, and support – that’s what helps you manage ADHD day to day. Your healthcare team will create a plan that works just for you.

Think of it like building a house – the assessment lays the foundation, but it’s what you build on top that makes the real difference.

FAQs

Q1. How long are NHS waiting times for ADHD assessments in the UK?

NHS waiting times for ADHD assessments vary significantly across regions. While some areas have waiting times as short as 12 weeks, others can extend beyond four years. The average waiting time is typically several months to a year, but it’s best to check with your local NHS service for the most accurate estimate.

Q2. What are the key differences between NHS and private ADHD assessments?

NHS assessments are free but often have longer waiting times. Private assessments offer quicker access but come at a cost, averaging around £1,200 for adults. NHS assessments are conducted by specialist psychiatrists or psychologists, while private clinics may offer both in-person and online options. The choice depends on individual circumstances, urgency, and financial considerations.

Q3. What happens during an ADHD assessment in the UK?

An ADHD assessment typically involves a comprehensive evaluation of your experiences and challenges. The specialist will conduct clinical interviews, use structured questionnaires, and may gather information from family members or colleagues. They’ll explore your childhood experiences, current challenges, and how these impact your daily life. The assessment can last anywhere from 90 minutes to several hours.

Q4. How should I prepare for an ADHD assessment?

To prepare for an ADHD assessment, gather relevant documents such as medical records, school reports, and examples of workplace challenges. Make notes about your daily experiences and difficulties. Consider asking family members or colleagues for their observations. Prepare questions for your assessor about the process, potential outcomes, and treatment options. For remote assessments, ensure you have a quiet space and stable internet connection.

Q5. What treatment options are available after an ADHD diagnosis in the UK?

Treatment options following an ADHD diagnosis typically include a combination of medication and non-medication approaches. Medication options range from stimulants like methylphenidate to non-stimulants like atomoxetine. Non-medication treatments may include cognitive behavioural therapy, educational support, and lifestyle modifications. Your healthcare team will work with you to develop a personalised treatment plan based on your specific needs and circumstances.