You can find out more about what ADHD and autism are on the NHS website: ADHD NHS and Autism NHS.
If you would like your child to be referred for an ADHD or autism assessment, then please read the following information.
Child <6 years
All children under the age of six years will need to be seen by the Community Paediatrics Team. If appropriate, your child’s paediatrician will then refer you to the Neurodevelopmental Service (NDS) for further assessment. This is to ensure a thorough medical assessment is completed and available to NDS staff when they meet with you.
A referral to the Community Paediatrics Team can be made by your child’s GP, Health Visitor, Speech and Language Therapist, or School Nurse. Please contact us for an appointment if you wish to discuss referral.
Child 6 years +
There are two available pathways. The NHS Pathway and the Right to Choose Pathway (RTC).
The NHS Pathway has a significant waiting time from referral to diagnosis, currently standing at up to 6 years so many people opt for RTC. This allows people to choose a private provider to carry out the assessment funded by the NHS and waiting times tend to be much shorter.
Assessment under the NHS Pathway
Please speak to your school SENCO lead as the school should refer directly for ADHD and autism assessment.
Assessment under the RTC Pathway
ADHD UK has a table on their website showing which providers are available, the assessments they offer, and their waiting times.
There are a number of RTC providers approved by our local NHS commissioning body, these meet strict standards and therefore if ADHD medication is required we are able to continue prescribing the medication they initiate under a shared care agreement. For safety reasons we are not able to prescribe medication initiated by other non-approved providers so you may need to continue paying privately for medication or be referred on to the NHS team which could cause further delay for you.
The approved RTC providers are:
- Evolve Psychology – provides assessments for Autism, ADHD, and Combined assessments. Please note: if ADHD Prescribing is recommended following diagnosis, patient would need onward referral (Evolve Psychology can make this referral directly but it will incur further waits for the child or young person
- Help for Psychology – provides autism, ADHD and Combined assessments. They can offer initiation of ADHD medication following assessment.
- Paloma Health – provides Autism assessment only.
- The Owl Centre – provides autism, ADHD and Combined assessments. They can offer initiation of ADHD medication following assessment.
- Community Assessment Therapy Services – provides autism, ADHD and Combined assessments. They can offer initiation of ADHD medication following assessment.
- National Neurodiversity Assessments – provides assessments for Autism, ADHD, and Combined assessments. Please note: if ADHD Prescribing is recommended following diagnosis, patient would need onward referral (National Neurodiversity Assessments can make this referral directly but it will incur further waits for the child or young person).
- Seven Care Services – provides assessments for Autism, ADHD, and Combined assessments. Please note: if ADHD Prescribing is recommended following diagnosis, patient would need onward referral (Seven Care Services can make this referral directly but it will incur further waits for the child or young person).
Carefully read the information above and choose your provider. Please then look at the referral process on their website, complete their screening checklist and contact us to book an appointment.
You may find the following leaflet provides further helpful information and support: Right To Choose: Neurodevelopmental Assessment Service