38. ADHD assessment in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, an adult ADHD assessment starts with a GP referral to your Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust. Right to Choose does not apply in Northern Ireland. A 2026 Department of Health review found that adult ADHD services are not yet formally commissioned, and waits in some Trusts run to several years.
How do I get an ADHD assessment in Northern Ireland?
Step 1: See your GP
+Tell your GP how your symptoms affect your daily life. Take a written record with you. Ask to be referred to adult mental health or psychiatry services.
Step 2: Ask for a specialist team
+Some HSC Trusts have specialist neurodevelopmental teams. Ask your GP whether yours does, and whether they can refer you to it.
Step 3: Ask for confirmation
+Ask your GP to confirm in writing that the referral has been sent, and when.
Children and young people
+Children are usually referred to CAMHS or community paediatrics. Young people who already take ADHD medicine may be referred on to adult services when they turn 18.
What are my other options in Northern Ireland?
Right to Choose: England only
+Right to Choose lets people in England pick an NHS-funded provider. It does not apply if your GP is in Northern Ireland.
Private assessment
+Private clinics in Northern Ireland are regulated by the RQIA. Before you book, ask your GP whether they would share prescribing after a private diagnosis. GP practices vary.
Support at work
+Access to Work (NI) is run by the Department for Communities. It can help pay for support at work if a condition has a long-term effect on your ability to work.
Where to get help
ADD-NI
The main ADHD charity in Northern Ireland, offering support and signposting, at addni.org.
nidirect
Official Northern Ireland government information on health and services, at nidirect.gov.uk.
Advice NI
Free, independent advice on benefits, money and rights, at adviceni.net.