In short
- ADHD should be diagnosed by a healthcare professional with training and expertise in ADHD, such as a paediatrician, a child psychiatrist, or a specialist nurse or psychologist.
- A good assessment gathers information from home and school, takes a full developmental and health history, and never rests on a questionnaire or a single test.
- Be wary of very short appointments, guaranteed diagnoses and any clinic that promises your GP will take over prescribing.
- Ask for the full price up front, including follow-ups, prescriptions and any additional tests and questionnaires.
Waiting lists for NHS ADHD assessments are long in many areas, and more families than ever are looking at the best private ADHD assessment they can find for their child. The independent ADHD Taskforce set up by NHS England has warned that the growth of private providers has been uneven, and quality varies. A diagnosis is only worth paying for if it is reliable enough for your GP and your child's school to act on, so it is worth spending ten minutes checking a clinic before you book.
This guide is the checklist we would give a friend. We have also shown how our own ADHD assessment for children measures up, so you can hold us to it.
Who should assess your child?
NICE guidance says ADHD should only be diagnosed by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in ADHD. For children, that is often a consultant paediatrician or a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, and some services also use specialist nurses or psychologists trained in ADHD assessment.
You can check any doctor on the General Medical Council's online register (nurses are on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register, and psychologists on the Health and Care Professions Council register): it shows whether they are licensed to practise and whether they are on the specialist register. A paediatrician is trained in children's general health and development as well as ADHD, which helps when something else, such as poor sleep, hearing problems or anxiety, could explain or add to the picture.
What a NICE-compliant ADHD assessment should include
A proper assessment is a careful piece of clinical work, not a form. Look for:
- A full history. Your child's development from early childhood, health, family background, and what is happening at home and at school now.
- Information from more than one setting. ADHD is diagnosed when difficulties show up in at least two settings, usually home and school, so school input matters.
- Time with your child. The doctor should meet your child, not only you.
- Checks for other explanations. Screening for conditions that can look like ADHD or come alongside it, such as autism, anxiety, learning difficulties and sleep problems.
- Tests used in the right way. Questionnaires and computer-based tests such as QbCheck can add useful, objective information. They support the doctor's judgement; they never replace it.
- A clear written letter or report. With the reasons for the conclusion and recommendations for home and school, sent to you and your GP.
Red flags to watch for
- A diagnosis after a very short appointment, or after a questionnaire alone
- No request for information from your child's school
- A diagnosis promised, or as good as promised, before the assessment
- A guarantee that your GP will take over prescribing
- Medication started without checks of height, weight, heart rate and blood pressure, or without follow-up appointments while the dose is adjusted
- A low headline price with the report or GP letter charged extra, or follow-up fees that are not published
- Pressure to book or pay quickly
- Not being able to find out who will see your child
Shared care: the question to ask before you pay
If your child is likely to need medication, find out what happens once your child is stable on it. Many families hope their NHS GP will take over prescribing under a shared care agreement. That is your GP's decision, and practice policies vary, so:
- ask your GP practice about its policy before you book
- ask the clinic how it works with GPs, and what happens if your GP says no
- be wary of any clinic that promises shared care
At BZ Clinic we ask your GP to take over once medication is stable, usually after around 3 to 4 months. If your GP declines, a private GP practice we work with in West Byfleet can take over prescribing, so your child's treatment does not stop.
Questions to ask any clinic
- Who will assess my child, and what is their specialty and, if they are medically qualified, their GMC number?
- Is the assessment face to face or online, and how long is the appointment?
- Do you ask for information from my child's school?
- Do you look for other conditions, and what happens if you think something else is going on?
- Which questionnaires or tests do you use, and how do they fit into the decision?
- What will I receive afterwards, and does my GP get a copy?
- If medication is recommended, how is it started and monitored, and what happens about shared care?
- What is the full cost, including reviews and prescriptions?
How BZ Clinic answers the checklist
| What to check | At BZ Clinic |
|---|---|
| Who assesses | A consultant paediatrician: Dr Bozena Zoric or, from November 2026, Dr Lisa Wall, both regulated by the GMC |
| Format and length | Face to face in West Byfleet, 90 minutes with the doctor |
| School input | School questionnaires, with your agreement |
| Other conditions | Screening for autism, Tourette's syndrome, dyspraxia, dyslexia and other difficulties, with signposting |
| Objective testing | QbCheck, included in every new assessment |
| Afterwards | A clear answer usually on the day, and a letter for you and your GP |
| Medication and shared care | Reviews until your child is stable on medication, then shared care with your GP, or a private GP practice in West Byfleet if your GP declines |
| Price | Every fee published: £1,700 for a new assessment, including QbCheck |
Whoever you choose, a careful assessment is worth waiting a little longer for than a quick one. If you would like to talk it through, call Camille on 07957 909754.
Questions parents ask
Is a private ADHD diagnosis recognised by the NHS?
A diagnosis from a properly qualified specialist that follows NICE guidance is a valid diagnosis. Whether your GP takes over prescribing afterwards is a separate decision for your GP practice, and policies vary. A thorough, clearly written assessment report gives your GP the best basis to say yes.
What is a NICE-compliant ADHD assessment?
One that follows NICE guideline NG87: a specialist carries out a full clinical and psychosocial assessment, takes a developmental and psychiatric history, and gathers information from more than one setting, such as home and school. Rating scales and tests can support the assessment but should not be used on their own to make a diagnosis.
Can a clinic guarantee shared care with my GP?
No. Shared care is each GP's decision. A clinic that guarantees it is promising something it cannot control. That is a warning sign in itself.
Should we use Right to Choose instead of paying privately?
In England, Right to Choose can give your child an NHS-funded assessment with another provider, via your GP. It is free, and for many families it is the right route. Waits, formats and who carries out the assessment vary between providers, so ask the same questions in this guide. BZ Clinic is not on the Right to Choose pathway. Our guide to NHS or private ADHD assessments compares the options.
How much should a private ADHD assessment for a child cost?
Prices vary widely between clinics. What matters more than the headline figure is what it includes: the length of the appointment, who you see, school input, any testing, the written report and follow-up. At BZ Clinic a new assessment is £1,700, including QbCheck, and every fee is published.