NHS services for suspected ADHD have very long waits both locally and nationally. Both locally and nationally patients can opt to have private assessment and treatment of ADHD. It is recognised that private ADHD services are currently delivered by a range of practitioners with variable levels of training and competence, and we would advise patients seeking out private assessment to be diligent when researching a private provider.
Your GP may not be able to enter into ‘shared care’ arrangements with online/ remote/ other private providers for ADHD care and therefore may not recommend a referral to these providers. Or they may be able to refer to alternative providers, “for assessment/ diagnosis only”, but not able to share care for treatment. They may recommend that a referral to the local NHS provider is in your best interests, even though the waiting list is long. Your GP may suggest a referral to the private sector, but would not be expected to enter into ‘shared care’ with private specialists, as the NHS GP.
This is a “commissioning gap”- where the services available on the NHS do not meet the needs of the population, and it has been raised locally and nationally.
You may wish to raise it yourself e.g. With your MP and/ or the ICB bobicb.plannedcare@nhs.net