33. Getting tested
There are three real routes to an adult ADHD assessment in England, and one of them, Right to Choose, is often not well known. Right to Choose is England only. It needs a GP referral and is NHS-funded, so it's free to you. In Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, see the pages for your nation. Right to Choose may offer a faster NHS-funded assessment route in England, though availability and waits vary. This chapter shows you how to use it.
What this chapter covers. The UK has three real routes to an adult ADHD assessment, and they could not be more different. NHS is free but the wait is commonly two years or more and some trusts have closed their lists entirely. Right to Choose is also free, works only in England, and brings the wait down to three to six months, almost no GP volunteers this information. Private assessment can be quicker, but costs, waiting times and follow-up arrangements vary. Check these before you decide.
Over the next pages we lay all three side by side, list UK clinics you can filter by region, route and age, and give you a GP script you can read out or paste into an online form.
If you remember one thing from this chapter, remember this. In England, NHS patient choice rules may let you ask for referral to an NHS-contracted ADHD provider, even if your local service has closed its list. Eligibility and provider availability vary. You can ask your GP to consider a referral under the NHS England Right to Choose framework. Local arrangements and provider availability can affect what happens next. If they push back, the script on page eighteen gives you the exact wording to use.
NHS services, provider availability, waiting times and local arrangements change. Check current information with your GP, the provider or GOV.UK. Last checked September 2026.