It’s one of the most common questions we’re asked. The short answer is that a thorough private diagnosis is a real diagnosis, but the NHS doesn’t have to take over your treatment.
A diagnosis is a diagnosis
ADHD is diagnosed in the same way in the NHS and in private clinics: by a trained specialist, using recognised criteria (DSM-5 or ICD-11), after a full assessment. A diagnosis made properly by a private specialist is valid. It doesn’t need to be repeated by the NHS to count.
Where it can get complicated
The question most people are really asking is whether the NHS will prescribe their ADHD medication. That’s a separate decision:
- GPs decide for themselves. Shared care is voluntary. A GP can decline on clinical grounds or because they don’t have the capacity, though professional guidance says the decision shouldn’t be based on cost alone
- Local policies differ. Some areas and health boards have criteria for private diagnoses. Some ask their own NHS ADHD team to review a private assessment before NHS prescribing
- Children are often handled differently. Some NHS children’s services don’t accept private diagnoses for NHS prescribing
What makes a private diagnosis more likely to be accepted
GPs are much more confident when an assessment clearly follows NICE guidance. That means:
- The assessment was done by a suitably qualified specialist with training and experience in ADHD
- It covered your life now and when you were a child, with information from someone who knew you then
- It used standard rating scales and recognised diagnostic criteria
- It considered other conditions that can look like ADHD
- The report explains how the diagnosis was reached, with a clear treatment plan and monitoring arrangements
- The clinic is registered with the right regulator, such as the CQC in England
Our reports are written with GPs in mind. Read more about what we send on our information for GPs page.
Tip: talk to your GP before you book
If NHS prescribing matters to you, ask your GP practice whether they share care with private ADHD providers, and whether they need anything specific. It’s much easier to know before you start.
Using your diagnosis outside the NHS
- Work. ADHD can count as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 if it has a substantial, long-term effect on day-to-day life. Your employer must then make reasonable adjustments. Access to Work may also help with support at work
- University. A diagnosis report can support an application for Disabled Students’ Allowance and exam adjustments
- School. Schools should support children based on their needs, with or without a diagnosis, but a report with clear recommendations often helps
- Driving. You must tell the DVLA if your ADHD affects your ability to drive safely
If your GP says no
You still have options, including continuing with private prescriptions, asking your GP to reconsider or asking another GP in your practice. Read what to do if your GP refuses shared care.