NHS vs private ADHD assessment: which is right for you?

If you’re wondering whether you have ADHD, getting answers can feel like the hardest part. You’ve finally decided to book an assessment only to find out that waiting lists can sometimes stretch from months to years. So, should you wait, or pay to go private?

The NHS route is free but can mean waiting years. The private route is much faster but comes at a cost. There’s no single right answer. This guide walks through both routes side by side, so you can land somewhere that’s right for you.

Content reviewed by

Adrian Williams

ADHD Specialist Practitioner and Nurse Prescriber

NHS vs private: what you need to know

The NHS route is free but can mean waiting years. The private route is much faster but comes at a cost.

You don’t have to pick one path. You can get assessed privately and remain on the NHS waiting list.

A plan for ongoing care once you’re stable on medication if diagnosed

Same standard, different speed

Whether private or NHS funded, ADHD Simple’s assessments follow the same structure and NICE ADHD guidelines.

NICE ADHD refers to the official clinical guidelines set by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for recognizing, diagnosing, and managing ADHD in children, young people, and adults.

The primary guideline is NICE NG87, which acts as the “gold standard” and is the national standard governing how ADHD should be diagnosed and treated in the UK.

Here’s what it requires

Diagnosis by either a Specialist Psychiatrist or an appropriately qualified GP or Nurse Practitioner with experience and training in diagnosing ADHD
Assessment must be thorough exploring current difficulties and how symptoms affect everyday life, childhood development, physical and mental health, previous health history
Symptoms must meet recognised diagnostic criteria, cause significant difficulties, and occur in at least two important parts of life, such as home, school, work or relationships
Questionnaires and computer tests may support the assessment, but they cannot diagnose ADHD on their own
Medication if diagnosed and is suitable and safe
Education to help you understand yourself and live with your ADHD symptoms
Ongoing checks to make sure your treatment is helping your ADHD symptoms and to address any issues
Once medication has been stabilised, your specialist may request a shared-care arrangement with your GP

When the NHS route is the right call

If cost matters more to you than speed, the NHS route may be a good fit for you. Start by asking your GP for a referral. They can refer you to your local NHS ADHD service, or to another provider under the Right to Choose.

What is Right to Choose?

If you’re registered with a GP in England, you have a legal right to choose who carries out your NHS-funded ADHD assessment. You’re not limited to your local service. You can pick any provider that holds an NHS contract for ADHD assessments, anywhere in England. Waiting times can vary between providers, so it’s worth comparing this ahead of making a decision. When you see your GP, ask for a referral under the Right to Choose alongside the name of the provider you would like to use.

The routes, side by side

Area

Private assessment with ADHD Simple

NHS Right to Choose

Cost to you

£399

Free

Referral

Book directly; no referral needed

GP referral needed

Wait for assessment

1-2 weeks

2 years + (varies by provider) The Guardian 2026

Titration wait after diagnosis

1-2 weeks

Varies, some providers have a separate wait

Choice of provider

Choose us directly

Any provider with an NHS contract, subject to local caps

Medication after titration

Private prescribing, then GP shared care if agreed

NHS provider, then GP shared care if agreed

Who can use it

Adults 18+ in the UK

Registered with a GP in England

When private makes sense

If waiting months or years isn’t an option for you, going private can mean you get assessed and supported much sooner. At ADHD Simple, we aim to offer appointments within 1–3 weeks.

What to look for in a private provider

Registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Assessments follow NICE guidelines
Information on who will assess you and their qualifications
Transparent pricing across every stage
A plan for ongoing care once you’re stable on medication if diagnosed

The hybrid route

You don’t have to pick one path. You can get assessed privately and remain on the NHS waiting list. This allows patients to keep their place in the queue as backup if they are eager for answers sooner. It also allows them to decide whether they want to stay on the NHS list or not at a later date.

How this method can work:

Go private for assessment and titration, then ask about shared care. If you’re diagnosed and stable on medication, your GP might agree to take over prescribing under a shared care agreement. However, always check this with your GP as they aren’t obliged to say yes.

Use private care as a bridge. Some patients will go private to get support sooner, then move to NHS care when their appointment comes through.

Keeping your GP in the loop is key

It’s important to let your GP know if you’re being assessed privately and to ask your provider to send clinical information from appointments to your GP. This keeps your records up to date and helps your GP deliver safer care. This includes checking interactions with other medications your taking, monitoring your blood pressure or your heart activity via an electrocardiogram. If your NHS appointment comes up while you’re already being treated privately, let them know too. This is critical as you should only ever be prescribed ADHD medication by one service at a given time.

Questions to ask early on/ before you start

Would my GP consider shared care with a private provider?

Will my place on the NHS list change if I’m diagnosed privately?

If shared care isn’t agreed, what will ongoing private treatment cost me?

If private is right for you

Get started on your journey with ADHD Simple for £399 and have your assessment in weeks not months, or years.

Stage	What’s included	Cost
ADHD assessment	Pre-assessment support, clinical appointment, written report sent to you	£399
Getting stable (titration)	One video consultation to agree on a treatment plan, then three follow-up reviews to check your progress and any side effects. Prescriptions are provided throughout. Most patients are stable within these appointments and medication is paid for separately,	£399
Ongoing care	Request repeat prescriptions in the app. Annual medication review by video and specialist dose changes, even under shared care agreement with GP.	£29/month