ADHD Assessment Confusion

[user4323]

I was referred for an ADHD assessment over 3 years ago, but it's going to be at least another year. I've recently come into a small amount of money and am thinking of using it to go private, but I'm struggling to understand the process and am looking for advice. I've been googling, and ai-ing, all day and I think I've found a couple of good providers, but one's twice the price of the other. Are they all the same? Do they all offer a diagnosis if appropriate, and prescriptions if necessary? Is it just one appointment, or do you have to keep going back, and paying each time? Do I need a psychiatrist, or will a GP with expertise in ADHD do? It's all a bit confusing to me, and as it's a lot of money I really don't want to make a mistake. If anyone has a specific recommendation for someone in London or on Zoom, that would be very gratefully received!

Is your adhd referral on the right to choose pathway is my first question? As that can be faster.

Regards to going private, pre 2020 it may have been the case that your GP might then take over prescribing under shared care, I don't think that is now the case as they see it as jumping the queue. But it may be worth double checking with your GP just in case, let them know you came into some money that could fund the assessment. It would not affect your existing referral to check.

You need a psychiatrist IMHO. I don't think a GP with expertise in ADHD can actually prescribe ADHD meds. Only a psychiatrist can do that. So they might diagnose but then you have to go somewhere else for meds who might not accept your diagnosis and want to do their own assessment.

I used Psychiatry UK. It involved assessment forms, one assessment appointment. We then had some less expensive follow up appointments while I titrated on medication. Once you are titrated on medication you must have and pay for an annual review as a minimum I believe. Mine is £250. If you go private and the NHS will not take you on as shared care (as I said, less likely these days) you will have to continue to pay for the cost of your prescription (c£15) and monthly meds (anything from £30-£70 a month I reckon). If the NHS accepted shared care the GP prescribes so you just pay your usual prescription charge and not the meds. A GP will not deal with any changes or tweaks to your prescription, so if any issues you have to go back and make an appointment with the psychiatrist. So its very important to take your time during titration and not rush it to get it right.

If the NHS won't accept shared care, you will need to go through the whole assessment and titration process again when you reach the top of the NHS waiting list, if you don't want to continue to pay for meds.

So essentially, it's only really worth going private if it's meds you really think you want/need.

Otherwise you have a paper diagnosis - it might help for work purposes as its a disability under the equality act so protected. But you could always inform an employer you are awaiting assessment. ACAS are helpful on work issues and give free advice. And you can use Access to Work even if you don't have a diagnosis (approximately 7+ months wait last time I looked). You can read lots of books and podcasts on ADHD too, as chances are if you think you have it, you probably do (if you know, you know!)

Thank you so much for replying.

I don't think my GP will fund prescriptions, they've added a separate page on their website advising about adhd/autism. They say you can go for right to choose, but you'd have to give up your place on the NHS list. I'm currently on the NHS list, and the only place that seems to be accepting people on the right to choose scheme is miles away. There are 6 providers listed and all bar this one say they're not accepting any more people. So I think I'd have to go private and pay for my own prescriptions. I do think if I'm offered medication I would take it. I've really tried everything else at this point, and I'm not doing great. I can't work, I can't even read a magazine article or watch a 30 minute tv show in one sitting. I have literally no friends or acquaintances any more, I can't maintain even a basic routine and I am drinking far too much to cope with it all. I really feel I'm at my wit's end, but it's so complicated trying to work out what to do. It would be easier if I could just go to my GP and they could do it for me, and I just have to turn up when told! I was first referred a long time ago, but didn't return the forms on time. So I think I've only officially been on the list since 2022. I got a note a while ago saying I wasn't going to be seen any time soon, with a list of people who could help me cope with the disappointment! But I've tried therapy and it doesn't work, they're always really mean to me. I have quite severe anxiety so I keep being referred, but they make me feel a lot worse. I suppose I would like to see someone who can help with all of it - even if I don't have adhd, there's obviously something a bit wrong. Presumably a psychiatrist could help figure out exactly what.

So theres right to choose (private, you pay) and right to choose (private, NHS agrees to cover your costs due to waiting times).

If you do go privately your GP does not have to provide you prescriptions or agreed to shared titration. Many GPs will, and it's worth asking about before making a change, however they sadly don't legally have to.

I personally would wait another year if they can guarantee that's only how long it will be. The risk of having to pay exorbitant amounts for private scripts is ridiculous.