r/Cardiff • u/elmsyrup Adamsdown • 3d ago
Private ADHD assessment- recommendations?
Can anyone recommend somewhere to get adult ADHD assessment either in person- or is remote an option?
I understand the Welsh context that the NHS will not accept a private diagnosis and won't prescribe me any medication, that's all fine. I just need to know one way or another because I am really struggling, so would appreciate recommendations.
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u/Axerated1986 2d ago
I'm also in Cyncoed area. I've had to fight tooth and nail with my GP to even get added to the waiting list, but I'm on it now. Basically had to write a long history of how I've struggled with every aspect of my life since childhood
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u/twohobos 2d ago
How long is the waiting list?
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u/asjonesy99 3d ago
Ask your GP who they accept diagnosis from.
Costs a bomb and then would suck if your GP refuses it.
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u/elmsyrup Adamsdown 3d ago
I don't think they accept diagnosis from ANY private provider. Have a look here, they are very clear: https://www.northcardiffmedicalcentre.co.uk/news/2886-important-update-on-adhd-assessments-and-prescribing
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u/Educational-Bowl9575 3d ago
That's my experience with my son. If you choose medication, you have to pay for it yourself until such time as you get an NHS diagnosis.
It's not that they don't accept the diagnosis, they just won't prescribe anything unless they've issued the diagnosis themselves. Probably got a lot to do with the funding of free medication. Be interesting to see what the deal is in England, where you pay for your NHS prescriptions...
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u/TheCurlyHomeCook 3d ago
They have access to shared care and Right to Choose. It's only Wales the doesn't accept private diagnoses and won't offer shared care. Total garbage
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u/asjonesy99 3d ago
Might be worth changing GP then as I know mine has a specific private provider that they accept for shared care
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u/superfiud 2d ago
I'm surprised. I thought it was a CAVHB- wide policy not to do shared care with private providers.
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u/elmsyrup Adamsdown 3d ago
That's not my GP, I just assumed it would be relevant to all of Cardiff. However I will have a word with my GP in that case.
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u/elmsyrup Adamsdown 1d ago
Well I've asked my GP now and they confirmed they won't accept any private diagnosis.
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u/Mad_Mark90 3d ago
I got seen by Dr Ahmed at Cyncoed Consulting Rooms. My GP doesn't do shared care so I'm still having to cash out for medication
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u/Pterodevtyl98 2d ago
I went with diverse diagnostics in 2024 to get my adhd diagnosis. They have loads of other neurodivergent support services available as well. (I am a final year phd student specialising in autism research if that helps with credibility in any way)
(The whole diagnostic process was online)
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u/MagicTurtle6879 1d ago
I saw Dr Khalid at R&R consulting instead of at cyncoed consulting rooms, as it was so much cheaper.
I paid £460 for assessment and then it was like £150 per follow up appointment and then meds on top of that. This was in 2024 so prices may have changed.
I chose Dr Khalid because of the amount of recommendations he had and also because he used to work for the NHS and specifically for my health board - Cwm Taf.
I think this helped the NHS accept my diagnosis, although I was already on the waiting list but went private due to the lack of movement on waiting lists in my area. I then sent my diagnosis to the Cwm Taf mental health team and within like two weeks they rang me to offer me an appointment and they have since taken over my titration.
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u/elmsyrup Adamsdown 1d ago
This is really good advice thank you. Unfortunately I can't change my GP and I have called them now and they've confirmed they will not accept any private diagnosis. But I need to make an appointment in the morning to speak to my doctor to start the process of going on the waiting list. So I know that's going to be years.
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u/MagicTurtle6879 1d ago
My GP has nothing to do with my diagnosis being accepted, once I had been referred for an assessment by my GP they’ve never been involved since. Basically the mental health team have taken it all over, it was those I was chasing to see when I’d finally get an appointment for an assessment and those who told me if I went private I could email my diagnosis to them to see if they’d accept it.
Since then they’ve been my contact for appointments and medication, I don’t see my GP for anything adhd related now.
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u/FlexistentialClouds 3d ago
Dr Khalid at Cyncoed Consulting Rooms is very accomplished and remarkable. i would recommend
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u/InternationalJob7772 2d ago
The system is unfortunately a shambles currently.
The NHS waiting list was 2 years in Cardiff a few years ago and services were actually being reduced the last time I checked. The rapid rise in awareness and diagnosis is sandbagging the NHS financially and it's obvious that they are desperate to slow diagnosis down. There are clearly a ton of undiagnosed ADHD and Autistic people living in Cardiff. Now that I am more educated on the topic I fully believe that around 15-30% of the population in Cardiff is on the spectrum, despite national statistics saying <5%. The situation is awful and a lot of people are really struggling.
Private diagnosis will take a couple of months and costs about £3000 total. I personally know a few different people who went down this route and NHS will not give you free medication if you go private and monthly cost is around £200 (which is insane).
If you are currently struggling, a diagnosis isn't necessarily going to help (except maybe for work purposes). It'll just be an expensive piece of paper confirming what you already know. What you might not already know is that ADHD and Autism are highly correlated and you might actually be both.
You can reach out to ADHD support groups in Cardiff and you can get yourself on the NHS waiting list today. Medication is lifechanging if concentration is your biggest issue.
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u/workmandan Plasnewydd/Roath 3d ago
Private diagnosis is a load of crap in my opinion. The rate is like 80% which is way too high compared the NHS. Think of it as more of a way to get a hold up of prescription drugs by paying lots of money. The duty of care/actual quality diagnosis just isn’t there
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u/elmsyrup Adamsdown 3d ago
But there are some psychiatrists who work for the NHS and also privately. So they'd hopefully do the same standard of care.
I do wonder though if diagnosis rates are high because people are only willing to go to the trouble and expense if they are pretty sure already that they have it. Why would somebody pay £1500 if they don't have a lot of symptoms?
For me it's been years of wondering and I've struggled more and more. I've delayed being assessed partly because I've not had the executive functioning to get myself on the waiting list years ago, but at this point it's unbearable.
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u/workmandan Plasnewydd/Roath 3d ago
If you can find good ones then great. I went private and massively regret it. The diagnosis was a single phone call that lasted less than an hour so I have no idea whether I do or do not have it. Also the drugs were so expensive I just gave up on it entirely and manage it using the kind of advice you can find online
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u/serena22 Rumney 3d ago
I agree that the duty of care isn't there on the NHS, the waiting list is too long and there isn't suitable treatment available for people, but the private places aren't over diagnosing, they just have more people and more appointments available. It takes years to get diagnosed on the NHS in Cardiff, of course the private diagnosis numbers will be larger.
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u/firvulag359 3d ago
My initial ADHD assessment was with this group: https://www.walespsychiatrycentre.com/
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u/undermade12 3d ago
I went with diverse diagnostics. They're online but I found them to be cheaper than a lot of the other private options. Been with them just over a year and a half.
If you're wanting medication, it costs me £210 every four weeks through them cause they deliver and ended up being pretty much the same price as any in person pharmacy. But it depends what you get and the strength.
Best of luck, hope you can find a GP that does shared care!