NHS ADHD waiting times in the UK

Adults referred for an NHS ADHD assessment in England are typically waiting over a year and in some areas much longer. How long you’ll wait depends largely on where you live, because each Integrated Care Board (ICB) funds and runs its services differently.

However, if you're registered with a GP in England, you have the right to choose who carries out your NHS-funded ADHD assessment. And you can pick a provider with an NHS contract for ADHD assessment, anywhere in England, not just your local practitioner.

Content reviewed by

Adrian Williams

ADHD Specialist Practitioner and Nurse Prescriber

NHS waiting times: what you need to know

How long you’ll wait depends largely on where you live, because each Integrated Care Board (ICB) funds and runs its services differently.

Ask your GP to be referred via Right to Choose (generally a shorter route)

Typically, you can stay on the NHS waitlist while you get an ADHD assessment privately.

Waiting times by region right now?

As listed in The Guardian, ‘sharp rises in referrals for clinical assessments over the past six years mean nearly 1 million people in England are on ADHD waiting lists, with the average wait already over a year (64 weeks).’ (The Guardian) (Gov.UK)

The NHS doesn’t publish waiting times broken down by ICBs. Refer to ADHD UK (https://adhduk.co.uk/nhs-area/) or contact your local ICB for the most accurate information(https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/about-nhs-services/contact-your-local-integrated-care-board-icb/).

Why wait keeps growing?

The demand for ADHD diagnosis is growing faster than the NHS can increase capacity to meet it. Each ICB dictates how much to fund ADHD services in its area and services are also limited based on how many clinicians are available. Demand is growing for reasons such as an increased awareness of ADHD, COVID-19 backlogs and medication initiation, titration and monitoring taking up clinical capacity. To put it simply, when referrals rise and capacity stays the same, the waiting list grows.

More awareness. ADHD is more widely understood than it was previously, particularly in adults. There is a rise in women who are recognising traits they’ve had since childhood that were missed or classified to something else.
Reduced stigma. People are having more open conversations around topics like ADHD, meaning more people feel comfortable to seek help.
The Covid-19 backlog. The pandemic caused a big delay in referrals and appointments, meaning services are still working through that backlog years on.

Capacity hasn’t kept up

Funding is set locally. Each ICB sets its own budget for these services, and waits differ so much between areas due to this.
A shortage of clinicians. ADHD assessments need to be carried out by trained clinicians such as psychiatrists, specialist nurses or general practitioners. However, there aren’t enough specialists to meet the demand.
Ongoing care takes up clinical time. Diagnosis is only the first step. Starting medication, adjusting the dose (titration) and regular monitoring take time and require appointments with trained clinicians. This also reduces the time for new assessments to take place.
Shared care pressures. Once a patient is stable on their medication, their care is usually handed back to their local GP. When GPs can’t take this on, patients are forced to stay with the specialist service for longer, which ultimately reduces capacity further.

Your options while you wait

Ask your GP to be referred via Right to Choose (generally a shorter route)
Consider private
Look into practical supports such as education, peer support groups, help with your routine, planning and sleep
Consult a therapist
Seek help for your other difficulties
Ask if your workplace or university can support you pre-diagnosis

Going private: What to know

A private assessment means paying for the service yourself rather than waiting for an NHS appointment. With the NHS wait times, going private allows patients to get answers sooner. What to know:

How much does a private assessment cost?

Prices will vary based on providers and ultimately comes down to which clinicians are involved in the process. At ADHD Simple, our assessment will cost 399.

What does a good assessment look like?

A private ADHD assessment should follow the same guidelines the NHS uses, which is the NICE guideline (NG87). You should look for:

An assessment done by a qualified clinician. This includes a psychiatrist or a specialist nurse with specific ADHD training.
The provider should ask you to complete screening questionnaires ahead of your assessment to provide a holistic view of you and your behaviours
A detailed clinical appointment which includes both your childhood and adult life
Where possible, getting information from someone who knows you well as an adult and someone who has known you from under the age of 12
Consideration of comorbidities. These are the conditions that can overlap with ADHD, such as anxiety or depression.
A detailed report explaining the diagnostic outcome and recommendations on next steps

Questions to ask before you book

What’s the total cost? Does this include a detailed report as well as follow ups if diagnosed?
Which clinician carries out the assessment, and what are their qualifications?
What happens if I’m diagnosed? Can you support with medication and how much does ongoing care cost?
If I decide I want to go back to my GP for care, do you have experience with shared care agreements?

Does going private affect my place on the NHS list?

Typically, you can stay on the NHS waitlist while you get an ADHD assessment privately. Make sure to inform your GP so they know what is going on and can keep your records up to date.

What happens after an ADHD diagnosis with a private provider?

If you are diagnosed with ADHD and medication is recommended, this might come at a separate cost.

The clinician you work with will usually start the medication at a low dose and adjust over time monitoring how you’re feeling and any side effects along the way. This process is called titration. Once you feel stable on medication, you might be able to transfer to your GP for ongoing prescribing. However, it isn’t mandatory for GP’s to accept shared care from private providers.

That’s why, most patients tend to stick with the ADHD Simple care team for ongoing care. Our team focuses solely on ADHD, so you’ll be cared for by clinicians who work with ADHD every day.