ADHD clinics in England

What is a private ADHD assessment?

An ADHD assessment is a detailed clinical evaluation to find out whether you (or your child) have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In England, NICE guidance says a diagnosis should only be made by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in diagnosing ADHD.

A private assessment follows the same principles as an NHS one. The main differences are that you pay for it, you can usually choose when and where it happens, and you don't need to wait for an NHS appointment.

What happens during an ADHD assessment?

Assessments vary between clinics, but usually include:

• Questionnaires before your appointment, often including rating scales for you and sometimes for someone who knows you well.
• A clinical interview with the specialist about your current difficulties, your childhood and your health history. For adults, this usually takes one to three hours.
• Information from others, such as a partner, parent or school reports, because ADHD symptoms need to have been present since childhood and affect more than one area of life.
• Checks for other conditions that can look like ADHD or happen alongside it, such as anxiety, depression, autism or sleep problems.
• A written report explaining the outcome and recommendations.

Children's assessments usually involve parents or carers and information from school, and are led by a paediatrician or child and adolescent psychiatrist.

Private ADHD assessment costs

We don't publish prices, because they vary and change, and we can't check them. When you compare clinics, ask each one for a written breakdown of everything you might pay for:

• the assessment itself, and whether the written report costs extra
• follow-up appointments if you're diagnosed
• medication titration appointments (see below)
• the cost of private prescriptions, which you pay at the pharmacy
• ongoing reviews, which are usually needed at least once a year if you take medication

Ask what happens if the assessment is inconclusive, and whether any fees are refundable.

Online vs face-to-face assessment

Many clinics now assess adults by video. Online assessment can be more convenient and may give you a wider choice of clinics. Things to ask:

• Is the assessment carried out by a specialist on the GMC's specialist register, or by another suitably qualified professional? Who signs the report?
• Will the clinic speak to someone who knows you, or review school reports?
• How will physical health checks such as blood pressure, heart rate and weight be done if you start medication?
• Will they see you in person if the specialist thinks it's needed?

On this site, clinics marked Remote consultations are registered with CQC to give advice remotely, or say they work online.

ADHD medication and titration

If you're diagnosed, the specialist may recommend medication alongside other support. ADHD medicines include stimulants, such as methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine, and non-stimulants, such as atomoxetine and guanfacine.

Titration is the process of starting at a low dose and adjusting it gradually, with regular check-ins, until you find the right medicine and dose with manageable side effects. It usually involves monitoring your blood pressure, pulse and weight. Titration commonly takes several weeks to a few months.

Stimulant ADHD medicines are controlled drugs, so there are extra rules on how they're prescribed, how much can be supplied at once and how they're collected.

Shared care with your GP

After titration, some private clinics ask your NHS GP to take over prescribing under a shared care agreement. This can mean you pay the NHS prescription charge rather than private prescription prices.

GPs don't have to agree to shared care, and some GP practices or local NHS areas don't accept it for private diagnoses. Before you book, ask your GP practice whether it would consider shared care with the clinic you're thinking of using, and ask the clinic what happens if your GP says no.

Adult vs child ADHD services

Many clinics only see adults. Check the clinic's CQC registration: each clinic page shows the patient groups it's registered to see, including children (0 to 18). For children, look for a paediatrician or child and adolescent psychiatrist with ADHD experience, and ask how the clinic works with your child's school.

If your child is approaching 18, ask how the clinic handles the move to adult services.

FAQs

Will the NHS accept a private ADHD diagnosis?

A diagnosis from an appropriately qualified specialist is a clinical diagnosis wherever it's made. But accepting a diagnosis is not the same as agreeing to prescribe: your GP may decide not to take over prescribing, or may refer you to an NHS service for review. Ask your GP before you book.

How do I check the specialist is qualified?

Doctors must be on the GMC medical register, which also shows whether they're on the specialist register. Nurses are registered with the NMC, and psychologists with the HCPC.

Why is this list shorter than I expected?

We only include a clinic here when its name or website address shows it offers ADHD care. Many ADHD services are run by psychiatry clinics with general names, so also look in mental health clinics.

How clinics are included

Every clinic on CQC Clinics is an active location on the Care Quality Commission's register of independent healthcare services, as published by CQC. The CQC register doesn't record specialties such as "ADHD" or "dermatology", so we place clinics in categories using their names, website addresses and the activities and service types they are registered for. We would rather leave a clinic out of a category than guess, so some clinics that offer this care won't appear in this list. You can still find every clinic through search or by region. More about how categories work.

What CQC registration means

Registration means CQC has agreed that the provider can carry out specific regulated activities at this location. It is a legal requirement for these services in England, not a recommendation. A CQC rating, where one has been published, is CQC's judgement from its last assessment. Check the clinician's own professional registration, and the clinic's latest information on cqc.org.uk, before you book. What CQC ratings mean.