Can I get an NHS ADHD assessment in Inverness?
Access is very limited. NHS Highland launched an adult ADHD pathway in October 2022 but stopped taking new referrals in October 2023 due to overwhelming demand. The adult Community Mental Health Team now only accepts ADHD referrals for people meeting the "Level 4: Severe" threshold, which NHS Highland has acknowledged means no service for those meeting Level 3 criteria. Many Highland adults therefore cannot currently access an NHS assessment unless their presentation is severe. Our private service has no waiting list and no severity threshold.
How much does a private ADHD assessment cost for Inverness 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 Inverness patients need to travel for the assessment?
No — most Highland 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, depending on the case. We work hard to minimise travel for Highland families.
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 Inverness or Highland GP to ensure continuity of care and to support shared care arrangements after diagnosis where supported.
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 Highland 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 the Highlands that can assess both within a single consultant-led pathway. This is particularly valuable for Inverness patients, as NHS Highland's ADHD and autism services have historically run separately, with no single NHS pathway for those who suspect both.
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 Highland — where most adults cannot currently access assessment at all — our pathway is designed to give Inverness patients clarity quickly.
