The first step: GP referral
Book a GP appointment specifically to request an ADHD diagnostic referral. As with autism, the GP doesn't diagnose ADHD themselves; they refer on to the specialist service. Bring specific written examples of inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity at home and at school, ideally across multiple settings (NICE NG87 requires symptoms in more than one setting).
What helps at the GP visit:
- A written list of specific behaviours: not “he can't focus”, but “Tuesday: started homework three times in 40 minutes, lost the worksheet twice, finished none of it.”
- School observations (the SENDCO can usually provide a short letter; if the school has done Conners or other rating scales, bring those).
- Family history (ADHD in parents or siblings is relevant).
The route by age
- Under ~16: typically Community Paediatrics or a children's neurodevelopmental service. CAMHS in some areas where ADHD has been commissioned into mental health rather than paediatrics.
- ~16 to 18: variable, often CAMHS, sometimes adolescent ADHD services.
- 18+: adult ADHD services (mental health trusts) or Right to Choose providers like Psychiatry-UK.
What the assessment looks like
NICE NG87 sets the standard. A diagnosis requires:
- A full clinical assessment by a specialist (psychiatrist, paediatrician, or appropriately qualified healthcare professional).
- Information about symptoms from multiple sources (parent, school, sometimes the child).
- Confirmation that symptoms started before age 12, occur in more than one setting, and cause significant functional impairment.
- Differential consideration of other conditions (anxiety, autism, sleep problems, learning differences) that can look like ADHD.
Some services use computerised attention tests (QbTest, Conners CPT) as supporting information. They are not diagnostic on their own; the clinical assessment is.
Waiting times and the Right to Choose route
NHS ADHD waits in 2026 vary widely by region: anywhere from 6 months to 3+ years. For adults, Right to Choose via Psychiatry-UK or ProblemShared typically shortcuts the wait to 6–12 months. For under-18s, Right to Choose is commissioned in some ICBs and not others; check before your GP refers.
Where the law comes from
Related
This page is general information, not clinical or legal advice.