Demand for adult ADHD assessments in the UK has grown sharply in recent years. Greater public awareness, social media conversations, and wider recognition that ADHD often continues into adulthood have prompted more people to seek answers. The result is a system under strain, with long waits in many areas and a confusing set of routes for people trying to get assessed. Knowing how those routes work, and what each one means in practice, helps people make informed choices.
Why Waiting Lists Have Grown
The NHS has traditionally handled adult ADHD assessments through specialist mental health services, and those services were not designed for the current level of demand. In many areas, people have reported waiting a very long time between a GP referral and an assessment appointment, and local variation is considerable. Some regions have much shorter queues than others, and some services have temporarily paused or limited new referrals while they work through backlogs.
The long wait can be difficult for someone who is already struggling with work, relationships, or education. It is also one reason that more people have started looking at alternative routes, including choosing a different NHS-funded provider and paying for a private assessment.
Right to Choose: What It Is and What It Is Not
In England, patients referred for certain mental health services, including ADHD assessment, may have the legal right to choose which qualifying provider carries out the assessment, instead of being sent to the nearest local service. This is often called Right to Choose. It generally starts with a conversation with a GP, who makes the referral, and the provider must hold an NHS contract to take part. NHS England publishes general information about patient choice at england.nhs.uk.
It is important to understand the limits. Right to Choose applies in England and works differently, or not at all, in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, where separate health systems operate their own rules. Not every provider is available in every area, and the details of what is funded afterward, such as ongoing medication monitoring, depend on local arrangements. Anyone interested should ask their GP what is available and whether any local policies apply.
Private Assessments and the Question of Shared Care
Some people choose to pay for a private assessment to avoid waiting. Services such as Cleo Care UK are among the options people consider when weighing this route. A private assessment can offer speed and convenience, but it raises a practical question that is worth settling before booking: what happens after the diagnosis?
If medication is recommended, someone has to prescribe it, monitor it, and review it over time. Some private providers handle this themselves. In other cases, the person’s GP is asked to take over prescribing through what is known as a shared care agreement. GPs are not obliged to accept this, and local policies differ, which means a private diagnosis does not automatically lead to NHS-prescribed medication. Asking both the provider and the GP about this in advance avoids unpleasant surprises.
Questions Worth Asking Any Provider Before You Book
Whichever route you choose, a few questions are worth asking before committing. First, who will carry out the assessment, and what are their qualifications? In the UK, clinicians should be registered with the relevant regulator, such as the General Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, or the Health and Care Professions Council, and you can check this on the public registers.
Second, does the assessment follow recognized clinical guidance? The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence publishes a guideline on ADHD diagnosis and management, available at nice.org.uk, which sets out the standards for a full assessment, including a clinical interview, a review of symptoms across settings, and consideration of other conditions. A provider who follows it is more likely to produce a report that other professionals will trust.
Third, what is included in the price? Some services charge separately for the assessment, the report, medication reviews, and follow-up appointments, and the total can be significantly higher than the headline figure. It is also worth asking what happens if the clinician concludes that ADHD is not the explanation, and whether that outcome comes with any guidance or signposting.
There is no single right route for everyone. Some people are comfortable waiting for an NHS assessment, others find Right to Choose a good middle ground, and others prefer to pay for speed. What matters most is that the assessment is thorough, carried out by a qualified clinician, and followed by a clear plan for support.
Anyone unsure where to begin should start by talking to a GP, who can explain the local options and make referrals where needed. With a little research and the right questions, it is possible to move from long uncertainty to a clear, well-founded answer and a practical path forward.
Contributed content: this article was written by a third-party contributor and does not necessarily reflect the views of Sense About Science.
