If you’re searching “private ADHD assessment cost” you’re probably in a very specific headspace: you want answers, you want them soon, and you don’t want to waste a grand on the wrong pathway.
The tricky bit is that “the assessment” is only the first bill. The real total depends on what happens next: medication titration, follow-up appointments, private prescriptions, monitoring (blood pressure, weight, pulse), and whether your GP will agree to shared care once you’re stable.
This guide breaks down the typical fees people pay in 2026, shows real published examples from major providers, explains how Right to Choose works in England, and spells out the shared care issues that catch people out.
Quick note: Prices and policies change, and NHS pathways vary by area. Use this as a planning guide, then confirm details with your provider and GP before you pay.
What You Actually Pay For In A Private ADHD Assessment
A proper ADHD assessment is not supposed to be a quick checklist and a “yes/no” at the end. In UK guidance, diagnosis should be based on a full clinical and psychosocial assessment, developmental history, and wider mental health context, and it should not be made solely from rating scales.
In real-life terms, your money is typically covering:
- Pre-assessment screening (questionnaires, symptom history, sometimes informant forms from someone who knew you as a child)
- A structured clinical interview (often 50–90 minutes, sometimes longer)
- Review of evidence from childhood and adulthood (school reports if you have them, family input, work history, clinical history)
- A diagnostic report or outcome letter (this matters later for shared care)
- Risk checks before medication is considered (for example, blood pressure/pulse, weight/BMI, and sometimes ECG depending on risk)
Many providers advertise “assessment cost” but the medication phase is a separate lane with separate fees. That’s where budgets get blown.
Typical Private ADHD Assessment Fees In The UK In 2026
Private fees vary by location, clinician type, appointment length, and whether you want assessment only or assessment plus medication support.
Below are realistic, published price examples (so you can sanity-check quotes), plus the extra costs people often forget.
Typical ranges people see in 2026
- Adult assessment only (online): often £700–£950 (with some clinics higher, especially for in-person)
- Adult assessment only (in person): commonly £800–£1,200+
- Child/teen assessment: often £1,400–£1,900+
- Medication titration packages: commonly £500–£1,000+, depending on duration and follow-ups
- Ongoing annual reviews: varies widely (and can be required even under shared care)
These are not “official averages”. They’re what you can observe from published provider pricing in and around 2026, plus what NHS shared care arrangements typically require once medication is stable.
Published fee examples from UK providers
| Provider example | Adult assessment | Child assessment | Titration / treatment support | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatry-UK | £950 | — | 12-week titration £750 | BP monitor suggested £15–£20; medication cost not included |
| ADHD360 | £950 assessment-only | — | First-year package £1,740 | Includes £950 assessment then £790 treatment fee |
| Harley Street Mental Health | £715 virtual / £1,200 in person | £1,400 virtual / £1,900 in person | Medication titration appointment £150 virtual | First prescription included but medication cost not included |
| Chase Lodge Hospital (example pricing) | £750 video / £800 in person | — | — | Includes report; first prescription included if appropriate |
Sources for the figures above: Psychiatry-UK published fees including titration and monitoring items , ADHD360 pricing page , Harley Street Mental Health pricing page , and Chase Lodge Hospital’s published blog pricing example .
The hidden costs people forget to budget for
Even when the assessment price looks “all-in”, check for:
- Medication cost itself (often explicitly not included by providers)
- Extra titration weeks if you’re not stable quickly (some providers charge per extra block)
- Additional review appointments during titration
- Private prescription admin fees (varies by provider)
- Monitoring equipment (some services expect home BP monitoring)
- Transfer-of-care fees if you’re moving from one provider to another (some clinics price this separately)
If you’re trying to compare quotes fairly, ask every provider this exact question:
“Is this assessment only, or does it include medication titration and follow-ups until I’m stable?”
That one sentence can save you hundreds.
Right To Choose In England How It Works And When It Does Not
Right to Choose is one of the most misunderstood parts of the ADHD landscape in 2026, partly because people use the phrase as shorthand for different things.
Here’s the clean version.
What Right to Choose actually means
In England, patients have a legal right to choose a provider for a first outpatient appointment (and subsequent treatment related to that referral), as long as the referral is clinically appropriate and the chosen provider is eligible under the rules.
Key detail that matters for ADHD: for a provider to be available under this right, it must hold a qualifying NHS Standard Contract for the service (with an ICB or NHS England).
So Right to Choose is not “pick any private clinic and send the NHS the invoice”. It’s “choose an eligible provider with the right NHS contract”.
When it usually applies
A clear summary from an NHS ICB guidance document (based on NHS England guidance) says Right to Choose can apply when:
- your GP refers you for a first outpatient appointment
- the referral is appropriate for your needs
- the service is led by a consultant or mental health professional
- the provider is funded by the NHS
When it does not apply
Common examples where Right to Choose may not apply include:
- self-referral routes
- if you’re already receiving care for the same condition
- urgent or emergency care pathways
- certain patient groups such as armed forces in some situations
How to use Right to Choose without chaos
In practice, most people do this:
- Book a GP appointment specifically to discuss ADHD referral.
- Bring a short written summary of symptoms and impairment (work, home, education), plus any childhood evidence you can access.
- Ask the GP to refer you under Right to Choose to an eligible provider.
- Keep a copy of the referral and chase politely if it stalls.
If your GP practice seems unsure, it can help to reference the fact that the right applies at the point of referral for a first outpatient appointment, and that interface services should not obstruct that legal right.
Shared Care The Bit That Trips People Up
If you only remember one thing from this article, make it this:
A private diagnosis does not automatically guarantee NHS prescribing.
The handover between private care and NHS prescribing is where many people hit a wall, and it’s the reason two people can pay the same assessment fee but have totally different long-term costs.
What shared care is
Shared care is an arrangement where a specialist starts and stabilises medication, and then a GP continues prescribing under an agreed plan, with the specialist still involved for reviews as needed.
In ADHD, NICE guidance is very clear on the basic model:
- ADHD medication should be initiated and titrated by a clinician with training and expertise.
- After titration and dose stabilisation, prescribing and monitoring should be carried out under shared care protocol arrangements with primary care.
That line sounds reassuring… until you meet real-world policy.
Why shared care is not guaranteed
NHS England’s shared care protocol framework explicitly notes there is no legal obligation or mandatory requirement to use shared care protocols.
Translation in plain English: even when shared care is the intended model, a GP can still say no, especially if:
- the report is missing key details (childhood onset evidence, differential diagnosis, risk assessment)
- the provider’s ongoing support is unclear
- monitoring expectations feel unsafe or unrealistic in primary care
- local workload and policy pressures are tight
Some GP practices publish policies stating they are not contractually obliged to accept new shared care requests from private ADHD providers. Those local policies vary a lot, but the overall theme is consistent with the NHS England point above.
What “NICE compliant” really matters for
NICE says ADHD should only be diagnosed by an appropriately trained specialist, based on a full assessment, and not solely on rating scales.
When a GP or local service is deciding whether to accept shared care, they often look for evidence that your assessment meets that standard. If it doesn’t, you can end up paying privately for medication longer than expected.
Monitoring and safety checks are part of the cost
Medication is not just “try a tablet and see”. Shared care protocols and local NHS prescribing guidance often emphasise baseline checks like blood pressure, pulse, BMI, and ECG where indicated, plus monitoring during titration.
This matters for budgeting because monitoring can involve:
- home BP monitoring equipment (some private pathways expect this)
- extra review appointments while dose changes happen
The safest way to avoid shared care shock
Before you pay any deposit, do this:
- Ask your GP practice (or even better, the prescribing lead) whether they accept shared care for ADHD, and what report details they require.
- Ask the provider: “If my GP refuses shared care, will you continue prescribing, for how long, and what does that cost?”
- Get it in writing (even an email is fine).
It’s not awkward. It’s adult financial planning.
How To Choose A Provider And Avoid Expensive Mistakes
Price matters, but it’s not the only thing that decides whether you end up spending £950… or £3,000+ over the year.
Here’s a practical checklist.
Look for a thorough assessment process
NHS services describe ADHD assessment as gathering information from multiple sources and trying to understand childhood development as part of the picture.
You want a private provider whose process resembles that seriousness, not something that feels like an online quiz with a credit card at the end.
Green flags include:
- clear explanation of what evidence they need (especially childhood onset)
- time built in for history and comorbidities (anxiety, depression, substance misuse, sleep issues)
- a written report that covers differential diagnosis and risk
Confirm exactly what the fee includes
Use this mini script:
- “Is this fee assessment-only or assessment plus titration?”
- “How many follow-ups are included?”
- “Do you charge for letters to my GP?”
- “What happens if I need longer than 12 weeks to stabilise?”
- “Do you provide a shared care request letter and a treatment plan?”
Some providers spell this out clearly. For example, one provider’s published titration package states it includes prescription writing, an end-of-titration review, and a GP treatment letter and shared care request, but medication costs are separate.
Understand the difference between these three pathways
1) Fully private assessment and private prescribing
Fastest, but you carry all costs until (and unless) shared care is accepted.
2) Right to Choose referral to an eligible provider in England
Often cheaper for you (NHS-funded assessment), but still depends on eligibility and capacity, and you still need a proper prescribing plan.
3) NHS local service
No private fees, but waiting times can be long and vary widely by area.
Check regulation and safety basics
Not every service is regulated in the same way. In England, the Care Quality Commission explains that certain “regulated activities” require registration, depending on what the provider is doing.
You don’t need to become a law expert. The practical point is: ask who is clinically responsible for prescribing and monitoring, and what governance sits behind the service.
Do not skip the GP conversation
A lot of people try to “sort it privately” first and talk to the GP later. That’s the order that creates shared care pain.
Flip it:
- Speak to GP first
- Then choose provider based on what your GP can realistically support
- Then pay
Even NHS GP practices remind patients that GPs do not diagnose ADHD and that a specialist referral is needed.
FAQs On Private ADHD Assessments And NHS Pathways
How long is a private ADHD assessment
Many assessments are around 50–90 minutes, but what matters more than the clock is whether it includes the elements NICE expects: full clinical assessment, developmental history, and not diagnosis by rating scales alone.
Can I get medication immediately after a private diagnosis
Sometimes, but medication should only be initiated by a trained specialist, and titration involves monitoring and follow-ups.
If a clinic promises medication with minimal checks, treat that as a warning sign.
Will my GP accept shared care after a private assessment
It depends. NICE describes shared care after stabilisation as the model, but NHS England notes there is no legal obligation to use shared care protocols, and local policies vary.
Your best move is to ask your GP practice before you pay.
What if my GP refuses shared care
Then your options are usually:
- continue privately with the specialist (and pay private prescription and review fees)
- seek a service that provides NHS medication support through Right to Choose (where eligible)
- request referral into an NHS pathway for prescribing and monitoring (wait times vary)
Is Right to Choose available across the whole UK
Right to Choose is a legal patient choice right within England’s NHS referral framework (NHS England guidance sets out the rules and qualifying contracts).
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have different systems and routes.
What should be in a good ADHD diagnostic report
At a minimum, it should reflect the NICE standard: specialist-led diagnosis, full clinical and psychosocial assessment, developmental/psychiatric history, and not diagnosis by rating scales alone.
A strong report also clearly documents impairment across settings and any comorbidities.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for general information and budgeting guidance only. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace assessment by a qualified clinician. If you think you may have ADHD, speak to a GP or an appropriately qualified specialist. If you feel unsafe or in crisis, seek urgent help via NHS 111 or emergency services.