Private ADHD diagnosis and NHS treatment

[Mummywhim]

Hi everyone, my little girl has just turned 5 and she has been showing signs of ADHD for a while. Her teacher has also recognised this and they have been great at supporting her. We are aware of the long wait times for diagnosis, and that she needs to be 7 to refer via the NHS. We are considering going down the private route for diagnosis, but this seems like a minefield. If she does get a diagnosis, does this mean everything else would need to be paid for privately (treatment etc). Would she need to wait for an NHS diagnosis for treatment to be provided through the NHS?

Also, any tips on how to manage would be great. The excessive talking drives me up the wall! And the constant shouting, screaming and strange noises she makes is like nails down a chalk board. I don’t want to keep getting to the point of shouting but don’t know how to break the cycle. She is hilarious and has an amazing imagination, but she wants to be engaged with at all times. She won’t entertain quiet activities, crafts are her worst nightmare. I just want to be the best mum but I’m finding that I’m exhausted most of the time.

We went private for the initial diagnosis and report. For the first few months we also had private prescriptions for the meds - I think it was approx £36 per month. Our GP has agreed to a shared care agreement which means DS still sees his psychiatrist privately (£250 per appointment) but if there’s a change in medication the GP will prescribe it on the NHS. We have also paid privately for CBT.
I think the shared care agreement is up to the discretion of the GP and some GP practices can refuse it - you’ll need to check this.
Does your DD like sports? We found this was a really good way to keep DS occupied whilst letting off steam and it really helped with the tics and stimming.

Thank you, that is very helpful to know. She hasn’t yet found a sport she likes yet. We’ve tried dance, musical theatre, football and swimming but she isn’t taken with any of them really. She still does dance (she likes the teacher) and swimming, but she struggles to contain herself with swimming and can’t concentrate on what the teacher is saying. We got her a trampoline the other week, I have my fingers crossed that this will solve all our problems ha.

Most GPs won't do shared care now because the BMA say:

Please note policy passed at UK LMC Conference 2025, which stated that ‘any shared care prescribing arrangement with a private provider is unsafe, not enduring, and widens health inequalities, and demands that GPC UK adopts a firm position statement to reject this’.

https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/gp-practices/prescribing/prescribing-in-general-practice/principles-for-shared-care-prescribing

Basically, GPs were concerned that they could agree to shared care with a private provider, who could then cease care for a patient, leaving the GP responsible for the patient's care, rather than prescribing under the advice of the provider.

Right to Choose providers are able to diagnose and treat.

DD3 was diagnosed privately. GP refused shared care. I then approached CAMHS with her report. After checking out the psychiatrist and taking his report to panel, they decided it met NHS standards, the diagnosis was accepted, and she was added to the CAMHS medication waitlist. GP still refused shared care because she wasn't actively under CAMHS care. I was told it would be 54 weeks on the waiting list. At that point, CAMHS wrote to the GP saying 'We will be caring for DD3, please prescribe in the meantime." GP refused, saying that unless she was actually under their care, firm no. Finally, I asked CAMHS how to make a complaint, at which point they decided they they could prescribe after all. I had to drive over to the clinic to collect a prescription from them. Then they wrote to the GP surgery and said 'Now she's actually under our care. Will you prescribe?' GP agreed to prescribe.

It took about 4 months of phoning the GP, phoning CAMHS, phoning the GP, phoning CAMHS... It was really stressful and in the meantime I was paying over £200 per month for medication.

She's very young and the first things that will be recommended will be behavioural techniques and environmental modification. So you could try and look at those things whilst she's so little. If they work, great, if not, you'll be able to say 'This is what we've tried.'

Have you tried beavers/cubs? My DS’s group is slightly feral which suits him down to the ground! Martial arts? Although it does require concentration and good listening.

Mine refuses medication but seeing a therapist has helped and allowed him to develop coping skills. School have been great and encourage ear defenders, wobble cushions and allow children to sit out the class for loud activities. Plus extra time and adjustments for SATS.

We didn’t go private.