How long is the NHS ADHD assessment waiting list in Dundee?
NHS Tayside handles ADHD referrals through Community Mental Health Teams for adults and previously through CAMHS for children. In March 2025, NHS Tayside paused new ADHD and autism referrals to CAMHS for children without a co-existing mental health condition while a new pathway is designed. With approximately 2,500 children already on the waiting list, NHS Tayside's Chief Executive has publicly acknowledged that any child added now is likely to wait more than 10 years to be seen. Adult assessments have also at times been paused due to UK-wide ADHD medication shortages. Our private service has no waiting list.
How much does a private ADHD assessment cost for Dundee patients?
Our private ADHD assessment is £900 paid in full, or available on a monthly payment plan from £225 per month. The fee includes the full diagnostic pathway and your written report. If you'd like both ADHD and autism assessed together, a combined assessment is £1,950 pay-in-full or £487 per month — more cost-effective than booking each separately.
Do Dundee patients need to travel for the assessment?
No — most Tayside patients are assessed entirely online via secure video. Adult assessments are routinely completed remotely. For children, parent interviews and feedback sessions are online; only the direct child observation may require an in-person visit to our Edinburgh or Glasgow clinic, both reachable within around 90 minutes by train from Dundee.
Do I need a GP referral for a private ADHD assessment?
No. You can self-refer directly to our service. We will, however, request your consent to liaise with your Dundee or Tayside GP to ensure continuity of care and to support shared care arrangements after diagnosis where your GP and NHS Tayside are willing to enter into one.
Will my GP accept a private ADHD diagnosis and prescribe medication?
Shared care for ADHD medication varies by GP and health board. Our diagnoses are made by GMC-registered consultant psychiatrists who are members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, using DSM-5-TR criteria and NICE NG87 standards, so they are clinically equivalent to an NHS diagnosis. Where your Tayside GP is unable to take on shared care, we can prescribe and titrate medication privately through our regulated service.
Can adults be diagnosed with ADHD for the first time?
Yes. A large proportion of our adult patients are diagnosed for the first time in their 20s, 30s, 40s or later. ADHD does not develop in adulthood — but it is frequently missed in childhood, especially in girls, in academically high-achieving children, and in those whose hyperactivity presents as inattention or internal restlessness. Adult-first diagnosis is one of our specialist areas.
Do you assess both ADHD and autism?
Yes. ADHD and autism frequently co-occur, and we are one of the few private clinics serving Tayside that can assess both within a single consultant-led pathway. This is particularly valuable for Dundee patients where local providers often offer either ADHD or autism alone, requiring separate referrals and additional cost.
How long does the ADHD assessment process take?
From your first appointment to receiving the written report, the full process typically takes between two and six weeks, depending on your availability for clinical sessions and how quickly informant information can be gathered. Compared with NHS waits measured in years, our pathway is designed to give Dundee patients clarity quickly.
