Is a cheaper assessment worse?

Not automatically. Compare what is included, the assessor's registration and experience, how developmental history and other explanations are considered, whether a written report is included, and what follow-up costs are separate.

Can I claim it on insurance?

Coverage varies by policy. Ask the insurer to confirm in writing whether assessment, follow-up appointments and any treatment are covered before you book.

Will my GP prescribe after a private diagnosis?

Not automatically. Diagnosis, specialist initiation and NHS prescribing are separate decisions. Ask your GP practice about its approach and ask the private provider how care continues if shared care is not agreed.

What does a private ADHD assessment cost?

Private costs vary by provider and by what the fee includes — assessment only, or assessment plus titration and follow-up. Ask for the full pathway cost in writing, including reviews and prescriptions, before booking.

Will the NHS accept a private ADHD diagnosis?

A private diagnosis is a clinical diagnosis, but what follows is a separate question. Whether an NHS GP continues prescribing depends on a shared care agreement with the specialist and local policy, and a practice can decline. Ask any private provider before you pay what happens after diagnosis, and whether they can continue prescribing themselves.

Getting assessed

Private ADHD assessment costs: what you may pay for

Reading time: 5 min
Written for: Adults & parents
Sections: 3

The short answer

Private ADHD assessment fees published by UK providers in our records run £400–£950 for adults (6 sourced figures) and £625–£1,295 for children and young people (4 sourced figures). There is no single UK-wide price, and the headline fee is often not the full cost. Before paying, ask what the fee includes, who conducts the assessment, whether you receive a written report, and what separate charges apply for medication appointments, private prescriptions and ongoing reviews. A private diagnosis does not guarantee NHS shared care.

On this page (3 sections)

01What should be included in the price
02Costs people do not budget for
03Questions worth asking before paying

What should be included in the price

Ask whether the fee covers the full clinical assessment, review of developmental and supporting information, any structured interview, feedback, and a written report explaining the conclusion and next steps.

Check the assessor's professional registration and ADHD experience. No responsible provider can promise a diagnosis, and a low headline fee is not useful if essential parts of the assessment or report are charged separately.

Costs people do not budget for

If medication is considered, separate costs can include specialist titration appointments, private prescriptions, the medicine charged by the pharmacy, and continuing specialist reviews. Ask for the complete follow-up schedule and fees in writing.

Shared care is an agreement, not an entitlement. Ask your GP practice how it handles requests from private specialists and ask the provider what happens if the request is declined; ongoing private prescribing may otherwise remain your responsibility.

Questions worth asking before paying

Who conducts the assessment and what is their registration? What history and supporting evidence do you collect? Is a written report included? Which follow-up charges are separate? If medication is considered, who monitors it and what happens if my GP declines shared care?

Also ask what happens if ADHD is not the conclusion. Clear answers about process and uncertainty matter more than a fast appointment or a promise of a particular outcome.

Work out your route

There are three assessment routes in the UK and two of them are NHS-funded. These tools help you work out which applies to you before you spend anything.

Going private: what to compare →

Questions

Common questions

01
Is a cheaper assessment worse?: Not automatically. Compare what is included, the assessor's registration and experience, how developmental history and other explanations are considered, whether a written report is included, and what follow-up costs are separate.
02
Can I claim it on insurance?: Coverage varies by policy. Ask the insurer to confirm in writing whether assessment, follow-up appointments and any treatment are covered before you book.
03
Will my GP prescribe after a private diagnosis?: Not automatically. Diagnosis, specialist initiation and NHS prescribing are separate decisions. Ask your GP practice about its approach and ask the private provider how care continues if shared care is not agreed.

Reviewed answers

Reviewed questions on this page

What does a private ADHD assessment cost?: Private costs vary by provider and by what the fee includes — assessment only, or assessment plus titration and follow-up. Ask for the full pathway cost in writing, including reviews and prescriptions, before booking.What this does not settleA private diagnosis does not guarantee that a GP will take over prescribing under shared care.
Why we say this
UK practical guidance: ADHD UK’s pathway and FAQ information covers routes to assessment and common questions about them. ADHD UK (Practical guidance · UK)ADHD UK (Practical guidance · UK)
Will the NHS accept a private ADHD diagnosis?: A private diagnosis is a clinical diagnosis, but what follows is a separate question. Whether an NHS GP continues prescribing depends on a shared care agreement with the specialist and local policy, and a practice can decline. Ask any private provider before you pay what happens after diagnosis, and whether they can continue prescribing themselves.Do thisBefore booking, ask the provider in writing who prescribes after titration, and what happens if your GP will not enter shared care.What this does not settleNo source we cite guarantees shared care, and arrangements differ between practices and areas. We do not publish provider waiting times, because they change.
Why we say this
UK guidance says: NICE describes specialist initiation with continuation under shared care arrangements where these are agreed locally. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Clinical guideline · UK)
UK practical guidance: UK charity guidance describes shared care as an agreement that practices may or may not enter into. ADHD UK (Practical guidance · UK)

See every reviewed question on this topic

Next step

Prescriber conversationHow shared care with a GP worksWho prescribes what after specialist initiation, and when a GP may decline.

Keep going

Checked against

ADHD in adults
NHS · Authoritative health information · UK
NHS information describing adult ADHD symptoms, onset before age 12, the assessment pathway, GP referral, commonly co-occurring conditions, medication and talking therapies.
Limitations: Describes features and pathways. It does not say why any individual experiences a given difficulty, and it is not a diagnostic tool.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management (NG87)
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence · Clinical guideline · UK
The UK clinical guideline for recognising, assessing and managing ADHD, covering diagnosis, impairment, medication, non-medication support and environmental modifications.
Limitations: Describes recognition, assessment and management. It does not establish specific cognitive mechanisms for individual experiences such as task paralysis or overwhelm.
ADHD in adults: good practice guidance (CR235)
Royal College of Psychiatrists · Clinical guideline · 2023 · UK
UK specialist good-practice guidance on adult ADHD assessment, developmental history, differential diagnosis, comorbidity and clinical management.
Limitations: Good-practice framing for clinicians. It does not provide individual diagnostic conclusions or mechanistic explanations.
Diagnosis pathways for adult ADHD
ADHD UK · Practical guidance · UK
Practical explanation of UK adult diagnosis routes, written for navigation.
Limitations: Not a substitute for NICE, RCPsych or NHS information on clinical questions.
ADHD UK FAQ
ADHD UK · Practical guidance · UK
Practical answers to lived questions about assessment, such as school reports and family informants.
Limitations: Where it differs from NICE, RCPsych or NHS information, the clinical sources take precedence.

Provenance

Last reviewed: September 2026
Reviewed by: the ADHD Resources Hub editorial team. Editorial review, not clinical review — no clinician has signed off this page.

This is health information, not medical advice, and it describes the UK system as generally applied. Local pathways vary. Always check current details with your GP or the provider.