Waiting times for adult ADHD assessment in England remain the single biggest barrier to getting diagnosed. The standard NHS route can take years. Right to Choose providers are faster but the picture varies significantly by provider. Here is what waits look like as of mid-2026.
The standard NHS route
If your GP refers you to your local NHS trust without using Right to Choose, you join the queue for your local adult mental health service or CAMHS-equivalent. Reported waits across England range from around 12 months in the fastest areas to over 7 years in the slowest.
Many trusts have officially paused new adult ADHD referrals altogether, citing demand. That is not a refusal of your right to assessment — it is a sign you should use Right to Choose instead.
Right to Choose provider waits in 2026
Indicative current waiting times for the main Right to Choose ADHD providers (subject to change month to month):
• Psychiatry UK: approximately 12–18 months for adults.
• ADHD 360: approximately 9–15 months.
• Care ADHD: approximately 6–12 months.
• Innovate ADHD: approximately 8–14 months.
• ADHD Specialists: approximately 9–15 months.
These figures move as new providers enter the market and existing ones expand capacity. Always check the provider's own website for the most recent quoted wait before naming them in your referral.
Why ICB activity limits matter
A small number of ICBs have introduced caps on how many Right to Choose referrals they will fund per quarter. Where these are in place, the delay is in getting the referral sent, not in the provider's queue.
If you live in an affected area and your GP says the cap has been reached, ask for the refusal in writing and contact PALS. The legality of these caps is contested and they often fall away under challenge.
What to do while you wait
Use the time productively. Keep a symptom diary — examples of inattention, restlessness, impulsivity, and the impact on work, relationships, and finances. This will be useful at your assessment.
If your symptoms become severely disabling while you wait, ask your GP about a referral to general adult mental health services for support in the interim. ADHD coaching and ADHD-aware therapy are also options (private, but often less expensive than a private assessment).
If the wait is genuinely intolerable, the private route exists — but only as a last resort. Most adults can hold out for an NHS Right to Choose assessment, which is free and equally valid.