Recommendations for Private ASD/ADHD Assessments & Diagnoses in London/Hertfordshire

[SpaceInvader321]

Both of our children have been referred for ASD and ADHD assessments but the NHS wait times are around 18 months, so we'd like to explore going private.

Are there any psychiatrists who do a combined assessment for ASD and ADHD, rather than doing separate assessments? (Thinking this might be the most economical option.)

Would there be any advantage in also getting an EP assessment/report? Would this help in trying for an EHCP? Or would a psychiatrist's report suffice?

How easy is it to get a private diagnosis or assessment recognised by the NHS?

Finally, I've seen some recommendations in older threads, but would be grateful for any new recommendations for psychiatrists and EPs serving North London/Hertfordshire.

All new to us, so any guidance very much appreciated! Thank you.

You could look at Psychiatry UK, Clinical Partners, Lorna Wing (for ASD). I don’t think any would do a totally combined assessment though.

The NHS or LA can’t refuse to accept a private assessment and diagnosis just because it is private. You are less likely to have the validity questioned if the assessment follows the NICE guidelines &/or you use someone that also works/worked for the NHS.

An EP assessment would help securing an EHCP. However, unless money is no issue I wouldn’t get one now before applying for an EHCNA. The bar for an EHCNA is relatively low and if the LA agree to assess an EHCNA must include an EP assessment. If you subsequently need to appeal at any point it would be better if the report was more up to date otherwise there is a risk SENDIST will consider it out of date - in the past reports up to 2 years old were considered up to date but over the last few years that has changed and SENDIST have ruled reports much younger out of date and the waits for hearings are longer than ever. Also if it is an appeal for refusal to issue/about content you may find the LA EP assessment is sufficient but you really need OT and SALT.

Dr Paliokosta at the Effra Clinic. She's an NHS Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist specialising in ASD & ADHD. Effra is her private practise she set up with 2 colleagues from The Maudsley.
You'll get a thorough multidisciplinary assessment (ADI, ADOS, Sensory Profiling, & 2 long meetings) with Psychiatrist, SALT, OT etc for just over £2k.
I went NHS with my son 13 years ago & private with my daughter last month (as the NHS wait list is 6 years where we are) & the process was identical.

Just to add to my previous post... I called Lorna Wing (specialise in girls) & their waiting list was closed. Effra had a 3 month waiting list that got extended to 6 months but I got a cancellation appointment after 3 months. I was recommended them by the visiting counsellor at my daughters secondary school who is a clinical Pyschologist.
The LAAP, (london autism assessment practice) another often mentioned diagnostic service, quoted me 5 figures when I enquired!

Wrong side of London for you but if you were willing to travel further, we used: www.starjumpz.com/. They did a combined ASD and ADHD assessment for us last year. We had to join the waiting list to get an appt - we waited about 4-5 months to get to the top - but then was offered an appt within 6 weeks.

Hi there, how are you getting on? Did you find somewhere? I’ve got an appointment in London next week for my son, they are doing a combined assessment asd/adhd for £1800 it follows NICE guidelines and uses ADOS-2 so hopefully it will be accepted/recognised by the LA!

@Sallyt7110 How did the combined assessment go? Would you recommend the provider you used?

We're on a couple of waiting lists for private EPs but most of them are talking about January 2024 at earliest. Hoping to get a slot with a school ep in the autumn. In the meantime, we're also planning to get an OT assessment.

Hi it went well thank you. Yes I would recommend the provider as they were the most reasonable price I could find and the provider with the soonest appointment available. The only thing I wasn’t happy with was that on booking the appt I was told the wait for the report is 3 weeks. Then when we saw the doc she said 3-4 weeks which I thought was fine. However a day before 4 weeks was up they then decided to contact school to give them the questionnaires which of course is going to take school time to receive the email respond and send back(was also half term) so am still waiting for the report! I even emailed in advance and asked if there was anything they needed me to provide from school ahead of the appointment but was told they contact school after the appt. So just a bit cross about that really. 5 weeks today….