Most information about ADHD assessments is written for England. If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, some things work differently. Here’s what you need to know.
What’s the same everywhere
- ADHD is diagnosed the same way across the UK, by a trained specialist using recognised criteria
- Your GP can refer you to NHS services, and waits for adults are often long
- You can have a private assessment by video wherever you live in the UK
- GPs decide for themselves whether to share care with a private specialist
No Right to Choose outside England
NHS Right to Choose only applies to people registered with a GP in England. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the NHS route is through your local service, so you can’t choose a different NHS-funded provider to shorten the wait.
Scotland
Adults are usually referred by their GP to a local adult ADHD or neurodevelopmental service, and children to CAMHS or community paediatrics, depending on the health board. Whether a GP will prescribe after a private diagnosis is a local decision. Some health boards have published criteria for accepting private diagnoses.
Wales
Adult ADHD services and children’s neurodevelopmental services are run by each health board. Policies on private diagnoses vary. Some ask their own NHS adult ADHD service to review a private assessment before NHS prescribing can start, and some children’s services don’t accept private diagnoses for NHS prescribing.
Northern Ireland
Referrals go through your GP to the health and social care trust for your area. Shared care with private providers is less common, so many people diagnosed privately continue with private prescriptions. Ask your GP about their approach before you book.
Prescriptions
NHS prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Private prescriptions are not, so the cost of private ADHD medication matters more if your GP won’t share care. How private prescriptions for some ADHD medicines are supplied can also differ between the four nations. We’ll confirm what’s possible where you live before your treatment starts.
Before you book a private assessment
- Ask your GP practice whether they share care with private ADHD providers, and what they need
- Check the clinic is registered with a regulator, such as the CQC in England
- Make sure the clinic can treat patients where you live, not just assess them
- Ask what happens with prescriptions if your GP declines shared care
ADHD Health sees adults and children across the UK by secure video. Our adult assessment costs £895. Book a free call and we’ll talk you through how it would work where you live.