There's a two year waiting list in my area, and that's to see somebody who was (in my GPs words) 'less qualified than me' - I've only got an undergrad degree in psychology and worked as a MH support worker for a few years. He recommended I go private (as I was really struggling with my studies and wanted to start treatment quickly - had done a ton of research and was pretty certain I had it; was like a lightbulb reading about it tbh, explained so much).
I scraped together some money and paid I think around £400 for an online consultation with a Cambridge educated consultant psychiatrist. This included the private prescription which was around £70 IIRC. He was fab. Paid for an hour but carried on chatting to me about my dissertation for a good 10 minutes after, just cause he was interested. Told me about his set up (put the kids to bed, then do the private consults), and as the field is an aspiration of mine, said to get in touch any time if he could help me out once fully qualified.
All in all, I was really happy with it. Did the titration of medication over a month; he said everyone always got a second private script off him but I said how skint I was and how I was over the moon with the treatment and had negligible side effects. So he was happy to pass my care back to the GP, who after a v quick phone call added it to my repeats.
I think there is little in the way of NHS counselling/ coaching for ADHD - though its big in the US. Medication is highly effective though. Significantly more effective than for the majority of mental illnesses (of which ADHD is not, but just for comparison - it's interesting to compare the stats in which medication improves depression vs ADHD for example). And it starts working from day 1. Changed my life. I'll always have some regret thinking about what I could have achieved if I got diagnosed as a kid. But I'm going back to uni to do my masters this year, and I can't wait to see how I'll fare now I'm on an even playing field to others!
I'm a better parent, a better driver, I get shit done, I'm more motivated, happier, can think clearer, can prioritise better. It hasn't cured all my quirks - I can still procrastinate for England, I'm still absent minded, easily distracted etc. But I'm thousands of times better than I was prior to diagnosis.