34. Three routes
Free and slow, free and faster, or paid and fastest. Compare them below.
How does an NHS referral work?
Your GP refers you to your local adult ADHD service and you join the queue. It's completely free, but the waiting lists are extreme right now and some trusts have closed referrals entirely. Worth doing in parallel with another route.
- Free at point of use
- Includes follow-up & titration
- Postcode lottery on quality
How does Right to Choose work?
England only. You ask your GP to refer you to a provider that holds an NHS contract. If the referral goes ahead and the provider is available, the NHS pays for the assessment. Check current availability. Many people, including some GPs, have not heard of it.
- Free, like the NHS
- Several providers to choose from, subject to availability
- GP must agree to refer
Can I pay for a private ADHD assessment?
Pay out of pocket, or via private health insurance if you're lucky enough to have it. This is the fastest route with full choice of clinician, but the costs add up, ongoing prescription costs depend on whether your GP agrees to shared care.
- Fastest, most flexible
- Costs add up over time
- Watch for shared-care refusals
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.