CHOOSING AN ASSESSMENT
Local NHS, Right to Choose and private assessment are often presented as three simple alternatives. The important differences are not only who assesses you or how long you wait, but what the pathway includes afterwards.
ONE DISTINCTION FIRST
It is a patient-choice route in England. Some eligible providers are independent organisations, but the particular service must qualify for NHS choice and accept the relevant referral.
Read the detailed guide to NHS, Right to Choose and private assessment
THE NATIONAL PICTURE
NHS PATHWAY
Assessment through the NHS service or pathway serving your area.
Check: local eligibility, current waiting information and what support is available while you wait.
NHS PATIENT CHOICE
An NHS-funded choice of a qualifying provider for eligible patients in England.
Check: whether treatment, titration and continuing prescribing are included—and what happens if Shared Care is declined.
SELF-FUNDED
An assessment you arrange and pay for directly with a provider.
Check: the complete first-year cost, assessor qualifications, report quality and ongoing treatment arrangements.
SIDE BY SIDE
These are broad distinctions. The precise position depends on your nation, local pathway, provider, age group and individual circumstances.
| Question | Local NHS | Right to Choose | Private |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who funds the assessment? | NHS | NHS | You, an insurer or another private funder |
| Where does it operate? | Across the UK under each nation’s arrangements | England | Across the UK, including remote services where appropriate |
| Can I choose the provider? | Usually limited by the local pathway | From providers and services that qualify for the choice requested | Yes, subject to the provider accepting you |
| Are waiting times fixed? | No; they vary considerably | No; they vary by provider and demand | No; often shorter, but never assume |
| Is medication automatically included? | Not automatically; ask what the pathway covers | Not automatically; assessment and treatment arrangements differ | Not automatically; titration, reviews and prescriptions may cost extra |
| Is GP Shared Care guaranteed? | Ask how prescribing is normally managed | No | No |
THE PART MOST COMPARISONS MISS
A quick assessment is not necessarily a quick route to treatment or continuing care. Ask these questions before choosing a provider, not after receiving a diagnosis.
If medication is recommended, who provides titration? Ask whether it is included, when it begins and what it costs.
Who issues prescriptions while treatment is stabilised? Establish whether these are NHS or private prescriptions.
What if my GP declines Shared Care? Ask whether the provider will continue prescribing and on what terms.
Who provides ongoing specialist reviews? Find out how often they happen and whether they carry further fees.
FREE TOOL
Use the ADHD assessment comparison checklist to record what each provider tells you about cost, assessment quality and what follows diagnosis.
Open the checklist →COMMON QUESTIONS
Eligibility, referrals, providers, waiting times, medication and the limits of the route.
Go to the answers →