The short answer: NHS or private ADHD assessment?
If cost matters most, ask your NHS GP about Right to Choose. If you'd like to book without a referral and know each cost before you begin, a private assessment may suit you.
Both routes lead to an assessment by a specialist. The differences are the cost, how you start, and how long you may wait.
How long is the NHS wait for an adult ADHD assessment in Hertfordshire?
There isn't a published figure. In June 2026, the local NHS body that plans these services said it couldn't give a timeframe for when a newly referred adult would be seen, because the adult pathway is under review (NHS Central East ICB, Freedom of Information response, June 2026).
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, which provides adult ADHD assessments in the county, closed its waiting list for adults who need only a diagnostic assessment on 1 February 2024. It reported 1,381 adults still waiting for an assessment (HPFT Freedom of Information response, October 2025).
Across England, the NHS says you may have to wait several months or years to see an ADHD specialist (NHS.uk, reviewed March 2025).
Want to see prices and common questions first? Read about our adult ADHD assessment in Bishop's Stortford, or send us a question on WhatsApp (07703 980989).
How do the routes compare?
If you have private medical insurance or a health plan through work, check whether your policy covers an ADHD assessment before you book.
Visit our Bishop's Stortford clinic for a personalised assessment, expert medical advice, and treatment recommendations tailored to your individual needs.
When is a private assessment at SABA the better choice?
A private assessment may suit you if you'd like to book directly, see one consultant throughout, and pay for each stage only if you go ahead.
- Who you'll see: Dr Harsha Gopisetty, a consultant psychiatrist on the GMC Specialist Register, who set up and ran an NHS adult ADHD service.
- Stage 1: a 30-minute initial assessment (£300), to check a full evaluation is right for you.
- Stage 2: questionnaires and pre-assessment testing, including a QbTest if indicated (£400).
- Stage 3: a 60 to 90 minute face-to-face diagnostic consultation (£400), with your outcome explained.
The £1,100 total includes £100 for the QbTest. You pay stage by stage, so you only continue if the assessment is right for you.
Visit our Bishop's Stortford clinic for a personalised assessment, expert medical advice, and treatment recommendations tailored to your individual needs.
When is the NHS route the better choice?
Use the NHS route if cost is your main concern, or you're happy to wait. Ask your NHS GP for a referral, and ask about Right to Choose.
Right to Choose lets you ask for your NHS assessment at any provider that has an NHS contract for ADHD services in England, which can include private clinics. Your NHS GP may be able to find one with a shorter wait (NHS.uk). SABA doesn't offer Right to Choose assessments.
Will my NHS GP prescribe after a private diagnosis?
Not always. Many NHS GPs will work with a private ADHD diagnosis, but whether they agree to share your care is their decision.
If you're diagnosed at SABA and it's suitable, we can write a shared care handover report for your NHS GP (£250). Ask your NHS GP surgery about its approach before you book, so you know what to expect.
What should I ask before I decide?
- Who will carry out my assessment, and what are their qualifications?
- What is the total cost, and what does each stage include?
- Is the diagnostic appointment face to face or by video?
- What happens if I'm diagnosed: follow-up, prescriptions and costs?
- Will my NHS GP surgery consider shared care?
How SABA can help
- Who you'll see: Dr Harsha Gopisetty, consultant psychiatrist and ADHD and Mental Health Lead
- Price: £300 initial assessment; £1,100 for the full pathway, paid stage by stage
- No GP referral needed. Call reception for the earliest date
- Where: Chapel House, Thremhall Park, Bishop's Stortford CM22 7WE, with free parking
- CQC-registered clinic
Visit our Bishop's Stortford clinic for a personalised assessment, expert medical advice, and treatment recommendations tailored to your individual needs.
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