How to Get an ADHD Assessment in the UK (Right to Choose Route)

I’m sharing this guide as a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist who works with adults with ADHD, as well as someone who’s been recently diagnosed with combined ADHD. I’ve been there, and I’m hoping to make this slightly baffling process a little easier for everyone else. It’s based on my own experience and what I’ve learned from supporting clients. Every GP and provider does things a bit differently, so use this as a starting point and adapt as you go.

This guide focuses on the Right to Choose (RTC) route because, right now, it’s the fastest NHS option for people in England. At the end, I’ll cover other routes, including private assessments.

Right to Choose means you can ask your GP to refer you to an NHS-approved ADHD provider (ie: an independent company that would otherwise charge privately). But it’s still free. For this reason, it’s typically faster than the standard NHS referral. But you have to know about it and ask for it explicitly. Many GPs won’t mention it unless you do.

👉 Not sure if you have ADHD? Try the free ADHD UK Adult ADHD Self-Report Screener before you speak to your GP. It’s not a diagnosis, but it can help you see if an assessment might be useful. And you can take the results with you to your appointment.

ADHD Assessment Checklist

This is a quick overview of the steps. You can scroll down or click on each item to learn more about how it works.

1. Contact your GP
2. Choose your provider
3. Confirm your referral
4. Wait (but don’t disappear)
5. Complete the forms
6. The assessment
7. After diagnosis
8. Support at work

• When and how to go private
• Other options

Step 1: Contact your GP

• You can do this by phone, email, or your GP surgery’s website.
• Say clearly: “I’d like a referral for an adult ADHD assessment, and I want to use Right to Choose.”
• Your GP will usually have a process to decide whether to make the referral. This could be a short self-assessment form, a checklist, or just a conversation. In my case, I was sent a multiple-choice form via email.

👉 Top tip: If you’re calling or going in person, bring support if it helps. You can take a friend or family member to the appointment, or even just have someone sit with you while you make the call.

Step 2: Choose your provider

This bit can be confusing, because every GP practice does things a little differently.

• In theory, you should be able to choose your provider before the referral is sent. You’d tell your GP which provider you’d like, and they’d enter the details into the NHS e-Referral system.
• In practice, some GPs will just send your referral to a default local NHS service or a provider they’ve used before. That’s what happened in my case: I was automatically assigned.

👉 Top tip: If you want to make sure you get to pick, do a little research in advance. Look up the Right to Choose providers (ADHD UK has a list on this page), and take the name + referral wording with you to your GP appointment. That way your GP has everything they need to refer you to the provider you prefer.

Step 3: Confirm your referral has been made

• Once your GP agrees, ask them to confirm the referral has been sent.
• You should receive an NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) letter or email with details.

👉 Top tip: If you don’t get a confirmation within a couple of weeks, phone or email your GP practice and ask:
“Could you confirm my Right to Choose ADHD referral has been submitted?”
Set a reminder in your phone if it’ll help you follow up.

Step 4: Wait (but don’t disappear)

• There are around half a million people waiting for ADHD assessments in the UK. Things can get stuck.
• Once the referral has been made, if you don’t hear anything from the provider after 1–2 months, contact them directly.
• In my case, I waited months without updates. When I finally emailed the provider, they replied quickly with the forms and I had an appointment booked within weeks.

👉 Top tips:

• Keep a reminder in your calendar (e.g. check in after 6–8 weeks). Self-advocacy really helps move the process along.
• Use this time to jot quick bullet points on how ADHD shows up at work, home, and in relationships. Be specific. If childhood memories pop up, capture those too. These notes will make forms and your assessment much easier later. Examples:
  • Work: “I miss deadlines because I lose track of time” / “I forget meetings unless I set multiple alarms.”
  • Home: “I leave laundry half-done and forget about it for days” / “I lose my keys almost daily.”
  • Relationships: “I get told I don’t listen, even when I’m trying to” / “I forget birthdays and appointments.”

Step 5: Complete the forms

Most providers will send questionnaires about your symptoms now and as a child.

Examples you might share:

• Childhood: “Teachers said I was always daydreaming” / “I was constantly in trouble for talking in class.”
• Adulthood: “I procrastinate until the last minute and then panic” / “I can’t follow through with long tasks like taxes.”

Once you complete the forms, you’ll be invited to book your assessment.

👉 Top tip: Answer honestly based on your everyday struggles, not just your best-case days. If you can, dig out old school reports, teacher comments, or childhood medical notes. They’re not essential (I didn’t have mine) but they can be really useful evidence. Even short comments like “easily distracted” or “doesn’t finish work” can help build a picture.

⚠️ Important: Ironically, many of the forms are not very ADHD-friendly. They can be long, repetitive, and a bit overwhelming. If you struggle, try filling them in with support. Ask a friend to sit with you (body doubling), or break them into small chunks. Getting them sent back quickly helps keep your place in the process.

Step 6: The assessment

I was incredibly nervous in the run up to the call. But I’m happy to report, the assessment itself was one of the most positive aspects of the whole process.

• Usually lasts 1–2 hours with a psychiatrist or ADHD specialist (often online).
• They’ll ask about your life history, strengths, challenges, and how ADHD shows up for you. A lot of this will be based around the forms you already filled out.
• The ADHD specialist is there to assess you, they’re not trying to “catch you out”.
• Sometimes they’ll want input from a parent or someone who knew you as a child.
• If you don’t have someone who fits the bill, don’t panic. Assessors know this isn’t possible for everyone. They’ll usually ask you to complete an extra form yourself about your childhood, or they might accept old school reports, teacher comments, or any written records.

Examples to bring up:

• “I’ve changed jobs often because I get overwhelmed.”
• “I start hobbies but rarely stick with them.”
• “I can hyperfocus on things I love, but ignore important stuff like paying the bills.”

👉 Top tip: Bring notes, just in case you go blank when asked direct questions. Ask the assessor when you can expect to find out the outcome of the assessment is (mine was at the end of the call).

Step 7: After diagnosis

If you’re diagnosed with ADHD, the next steps usually include:

• Medication titration (slowly finding the right dose) if this is an option that feels right for you.
• Non-medication support (coaching, therapy, lifestyle changes).
• Once your dose is stable, the specialist may ask your GP to take over prescribing through a shared-care agreement.

👉 Top tip: Ask your GP practice early if they usually accept ADHD shared-care. It avoids surprises later.

Step 8: Support at work

• You can apply for Access to Work. This is a government grant that helps if ADHD makes your job harder. It can pay for things like ADHD coaching, specialist software, equipment, or even extra travel costs if public transport is difficult. You don’t need to go through your employer, you can apply directly yourself (whether you’re employed, self-employed, or have a job offer). Your employer will usually be asked to contribute a small amount if adjustments are agreed.
• You can also ask your employer for reasonable adjustments (like written instructions, flexible hours, or noise-cancelling headphones).

Examples:

• “I’d like written instructions instead of just verbal ones.”
• “I focus better with a quiet space or noise-cancelling headphones.”

When and how to go private

Some people decide to go private instead of (or after starting) Right to Choose.

• When: If you want a quicker assessment than even Right to Choose providers can offer, or if you can’t get the GP referral you need.
• How: Contact a private clinic directly and pay for an assessment. Costs vary, usually £500–£1000+.

⚠️ Important: If you go private, you may also need to keep paying privately for medication and follow-ups unless your GP agrees to shared care (and some GPs/ICBs refuse this). Always check in advance.

👉 Top tip: Ask the clinic in writing: “If my GP won’t agree to shared care, will you provide ongoing prescriptions, and at what cost?”

Other options (very briefly)

• Standard NHS referral. Free and UK-wide, but waits can be years in some areas. Check your local waiting times here.
• Private assessment only. Fast, but potentially costly long-term.

Final thoughts

Right to Choose is often the quickest free option in England, but the system is busy and imperfect.

💡 The biggest lesson I learned? Keep checking in, chase things up, and don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. That’s often what makes the difference between waiting years and getting seen.