Has anyone paid to go private for ADHD diagnosis?

[LoganRoy]

Looking for recommendations thank you.

I used Psychiatry UK and found them good.

Yes also Psychiatry-UK.

I believe theres a long waitlist now though.

I used Clinical Partners.

I used Psychiatry UK.

Thank you.

Are you aware you can ask your GP to refer you to Psychiatry UK via ' right to chose' . You will wait a few months to be seen but a shorter wait than NHS. If your're GP refers it is then hopefully simpler once titrated on meds to have them via prescription from GP and not have to continue to pay privately. Good luck.

I have been lucky I think in that my GP has been happy to take the advice from Clinical Partners psychiatrist and prescribes my meds. I couldn’t handle the multiple appointments and conversations to go via the GP initially.

They won't prescribe adhd meds in my area unless it's done by the NHS. I couldn't afford the private prescriptions and cost of the meds when I was with Psychiatry UK. The Ritalin isn't expensive, but I couldn't tolerate that so I'm stuffed because the alternatives are £££.

My GP isn’t very helpful. I will try at an appointment but I doubt they will refer me on so I think I’ll have to get the assessment done privately.

That’s difficult hiplip. I thought they had to under shared care but maybe that isn’t universal.

I am looking at ADHD 360 - they have a care package (different ones) which doesn't include medication but would presumably include titration but I'm not sure if it includes the issue of private prescription.

Thanks mallow I’ll have a look.

I went to The Priory. Dr Feeney does adult assessments in Surrey. I did get a shred care agreement for meds, but it took a while to sort out, mainly due to a communication problem between me, gp and psychiatrist.
GP told me there was no funding for adult assessment in my trust.

Good luck.

Axia are very good, in Cheshire but you can use zoom.

GP here, for various reasons we usually can't safely prescribe unless there is an NHS consultant involved. Some of the private providers are known among the profession as 'diagnosis factories' churning out diagnoses, not always by people qualified to make them. So just be careful that you check the credentials of the person and the organisation.

@pianolessons1

GP here, for various reasons we usually can't safely prescribe unless there is an NHS consultant involved. Some of the private providers are known among the profession as 'diagnosis factories' churning out diagnoses, not always by people qualified to make them. So just be careful that you check the credentials of the person and the organisation.

Do you have any recommendations? Or can you advise who to avoid? I am 51 and have, on and off, consulted MH professionals about my inability to concentrate and hold down a job since I was 21 - 30 years I have been fobbed off, minimised, patronised by everyone. Apparently I will grow out of this I have struggled horribly all my life. I have money for a private diagnosis and would only want a diagnosis from a doctor but I cannot afford, emotionally as well as financially, to have yet another disappointment. I can't have "right to choose" as I'm in Scotland which is another barrier.

@pianolessons1

GP here, for various reasons we usually can't safely prescribe unless there is an NHS consultant involved. Some of the private providers are known among the profession as 'diagnosis factories' churning out diagnoses, not always by people qualified to make them. So just be careful that you check the credentials of the person and the organisation.

I'm thankful my GP has been able to prescribe, I was able to get a private prescription from my psychiatrist, cost about £120 a month.

Its desperately frustrating that people are refused assessment by GP and then shared care is so difficult for people who are able to afford private dx.

I'm bemused that anyone would spend £££ on assessment to access medication, it can be extremely helpful, but the fact that most people with adhd struggle to remember to take it tells you that it's really not addictive in doses prescribed.

I know you are well meaning and I'm sure charlatans exist, but it's just so frustrating for adults who have had a lifetime of poor mental health to be continually fobbed off and refused support.

Why do professionals fob patients off so much? I have spent a significant part of my life unemployed and have hit rock bottom on many occasions. Every single time I consult a MH professional I am patronised, degraded, ignored and generally disrespected. I have a degree but went through hell to get it and had a breakdown afterwards due to the level of bullying I received due to being disorganised, unable to start or finish tasks, and annoying everyone with my sub par performance.
It's the ingrained disrespect of MH professionals that is so enraging.

It's not that we don't want to help, it's that ADHD drugs are potentially dangerous and addictive and have a significant street value. They are listed as shared care which means we have to have an NHS consultant involved - if we agree to prescribe for patients who have gone private then invariably the patient stops paying to see their consultant and we are left with an unacceptable legal risk from prescribing. I don't think I should say which firms are considered good/bad as it may be considered libellous. We don't enjoy working in such an underfunded system.

Ues with adhd360 but my meds mean I pay 100 a month.

@mallowvalley

Why do professionals fob patients off so much? I have spent a significant part of my life unemployed and have hit rock bottom on many occasions. Every single time I consult a MH professional I am patronised, degraded, ignored and generally disrespected. I have a degree but went through hell to get it and had a breakdown afterwards due to the level of bullying I received due to being disorganised, unable to start or finish tasks, and annoying everyone with my sub par performance. It's the ingrained disrespect of MH professionals that is so enraging.

@mallowvalley where about are you? I know a bit about getting adhd diagnosis in Edinburgh?

I told my GP that I would be paying to see my private consultant annually for a review. I very much expect that he will no longer prescribe if I don’t do this.

I'm pretty sure I have adult adhd, but do not want to take medication. I have multiple other health issues that require a cocktail of meds and I just don't want more side effects. Are there any other treatment options that actually help? Some sort of therapy or something? The sensory issues, impact on my mental health, relationships, children, everything is enormous. I havent had a job in 15 years, I am constantly on the edge of everything falling apart, my home is chaotic, I am flying by the seat of my pants when it comes to organising the children's lives... I'm just exhausted by it. Is it worth trying to get a diagnosis even if I don't want the medication?

Edinburgh Clinic seem ok but expensive

@Starryskiesinthesky I'm in Fife - just a wee train ride away from Edinburgh. My DD (15) has ASD and is being assessed for ADHD. I see myself in her..
Any advice re assessment would be great

@Stormwhale I am exactly the same. I also don't really want medication but I can't see what else I can do? I am very good at having calendars, alarms, all the systems are in place and my physical, mental and emotional self care is excellent but it's just not enough and at this point I have no succumbed to the overwhelm I've had for most of my life. We all have limits and mine is here.