What To Do After Your ADHD Screening — The Complete UK Action Plan for 2026

You have your screening results. Now you need a plan. This guide walks you through every pathway from screening to formal diagnosis, medication and ongoing support — with real costs, real waiting times and real advice based on how the UK system works in 2026.

Understanding what your screening means

Before diving into pathways, it helps to understand what your screening results actually represent. A qEEG screening measures the theta/beta ratio — the balance between slow-wave (theta) and fast-wave (beta) brain activity at electrode sites over the prefrontal cortex. An elevated ratio suggests that your brain’s frontal regions may be underactivated during concentration tasks, which is a pattern consistently associated with ADHD in the published research literature.

Your screening is not a diagnosis. It is objective neurophysiological evidence that supports or informs the diagnostic process. Think of it as a blood test that reveals an abnormal marker — the blood test does not diagnose the condition, but it provides evidence that guides your doctor’s next steps. Similarly, your elevated theta/beta ratio provides evidence that guides and strengthens your referral for formal clinical assessment.

Your support pack includes a GP letter with your data embedded, formatted for clinical communication. This letter is designed to be handed directly to your GP at your appointment. It presents your results in language that GPs understand, references the FDA-cleared NEBA system that uses the same biomarker, and makes a clear case for specialist referral.

The three pathways at a glance

There is no single route to ADHD diagnosis in the UK. Your choice depends on your budget, your location, and how quickly you need answers. Here is an honest comparison of all three options as of April 2026.

Step 1 — Book your GP appointment

Whatever pathway you choose, your GP is the starting point. They need to make the referral (for NHS and Right to Choose) or you may want their input before going private. Our GP appointment guide covers this in detail, but here is the summary:

Step 2 — Right to Choose (England only)

Right to Choose is the most important pathway most people do not know about. It is a legal right enshrined in the NHS Constitution allowing you to choose which provider assesses you, with the NHS paying for everything.

How it works

1. Your GP sends a referral to your chosen approved provider
2. The provider adds you to their waiting list and contacts you when an appointment is available
3. Assessment is conducted by video consultation (typically 60–90 minutes)
4. If diagnosed, the provider begins medication titration (still NHS funded)
5. Once stable, care transfers to your NHS GP via a shared care agreement

Approved providers and current wait times (April 2026)

Important caveats: Wait times change frequently. Some Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) have placed restrictions on Right to Choose — ADHD UK is actively challenging these restrictions as they believe them to be unlawful. Right to Choose is not available in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Step 3 — Private assessment

If Right to Choose is not available to you (Scotland, Wales, NI), if you cannot wait months, or if you simply want the fastest possible answers, a private assessment is the most direct route.

What to expect

• Cost: £600–£900 for initial assessment. London/Southeast typically £750–£900. Midlands/North £600–£750. Telehealth assessments are often at the lower end and are clinically equivalent.
• Wait time: 2–6 weeks for most private providers. Some offer appointments within days.
• Format: 60–90 minute consultation with a consultant psychiatrist, either in person or by video. Includes review of your history, symptoms, screening data, and differential diagnosis.
• GP referral: Not required by most private providers, but having your screening report and GP letter strengthens the assessment.

Choosing a private provider

• Verify they are CQC registered (Care Quality Commission) — this ensures NICE compliance
• Check the assessing clinician is a GMC-registered psychiatrist, not just a psychologist — only a psychiatrist can diagnose and prescribe
• Ask about their shared care success rate — this determines whether your GP will take over prescribing after diagnosis
• Confirm they provide a full written report suitable for GP shared care requests, EHCP applications and Access to Work claims

Your screening report supports every pathway

Whether you choose NHS, Right to Choose, or private assessment — objective brain data strengthens your referral, speeds up the process, and gives your clinician evidence that subjective reports alone cannot provide.

Step 4 — Diagnosis and medication

If you are diagnosed with ADHD, your assessing psychiatrist will discuss treatment options. For most adults, this includes medication alongside behavioural strategies. Our medication guide covers this in full detail, but here is the overview:

First-line medications in the UK

• Methylphenidate (Concerta XL, Equasym, Medikinet) — stimulant, most commonly prescribed first
• Lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse/Vyvanse) — stimulant, often tried if methylphenidate is not tolerated
• Atomoxetine (Strattera) — non-stimulant option for those who cannot take stimulants
• Guanfacine (Intuniv) — non-stimulant, typically used in children/young people

The titration process

Titration is the process of finding the right medication and dose. It typically takes 3–6 months and involves starting at a low dose, gradually increasing, and monitoring symptoms and side effects. Under Right to Choose, titration is NHS funded. Privately, follow-up appointments cost £150–£250 each.

Step 5 — Shared care agreement

A shared care agreement transfers your ongoing prescribing from the specialist (private or Right to Choose provider) to your NHS GP. This is critical for long-term affordability.

How it works

1. Your specialist writes to your GP with a treatment plan, including diagnosis, medication, dose and monitoring requirements
2. Your GP reviews the plan and agrees (or declines) to take over routine prescriptions and blood tests
3. Once accepted, you receive NHS prescriptions (£9.90 per item, or free if exempt)
4. Your specialist remains available for complex issues, dose changes or annual reviews

Around 85–90% of GPs accept shared care from established providers like Psychiatry-UK. Acceptance rates for lesser-known private providers may be lower — this is one reason to choose a CQC-registered, well-established provider.

Step 6 — Follow-up and ongoing support

ADHD is a lifelong condition, and a diagnosis is the beginning of a journey, not the end. Here is what ongoing support looks like:

• Medication response scan — a repeat qEEG 3–6 months after starting medication to objectively track brain changes
• Coping strategies — evidence-based techniques for time management, task initiation, environment design and emotional regulation
• Workplace adjustments — Equality Act reasonable adjustments and Access to Work funding (up to £66,000 per support period)
• ADHD coaching — specialist coaching helps translate strategies into daily habits. Often funded through Access to Work
• Annual medication reviews — your GP or specialist should review your medication at least annually
• Support communities — ADHD UK (adhduk.co.uk) and the ADHD Foundation (adhdfoundation.org.uk) offer support groups, webinars and resources

Pathway for children

If your child’s screening showed elevated results, the pathway is slightly different. Our parent’s guide covers this comprehensively, but here are the key points:

• GP referral to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) is the standard NHS route for under-18s
• School involvement is essential — ask the SENCO to provide observations and evidence. This strengthens both the referral and any future EHCP application
• Right to Choose applies to children’s assessments too, though fewer providers offer under-18 services via this route. Psychiatry-UK does not currently accept under-18 Right to Choose referrals
• Private paediatric assessment typically costs £800–£1,500 depending on the provider and complexity
• Your child’s qEEG report is valuable evidence for CAMHS referrals, EHCP applications and school support plans

Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland

Right to Choose is an England-only policy based on the NHS Constitution for England. If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, your options are different but your screening report is equally valid across all UK nations.

Scotland

ADHD services in Scotland are delivered through NHS boards. Waiting times vary significantly by health board, with some areas reporting waits of 12–24 months. The Scottish Government has acknowledged the need for improved adult ADHD services. Private assessment via UK-wide telehealth providers is the fastest alternative, with shared care transfer to your Scottish GP following the same process as in England.

Wales

NHS Wales has invested in neurodevelopmental assessment pathways, but capacity remains limited. Waiting times are typically 18–30 months. The Welsh Government introduced specific neurodevelopmental condition pathways, though implementation varies by health board. Private assessment is widely available via telehealth, and Welsh GPs generally accept shared care agreements from established providers.

Northern Ireland

Adult ADHD services in Northern Ireland are among the most limited in the UK. Health and Social Care Trusts deliver services, but provision is inconsistent. Waiting times can exceed 2 years. Private assessment via telehealth is often the most practical route, though some patients travel to Dublin or Belfast for in-person appointments with specialist providers.

• Private assessment — the fastest route across all devolved nations. Many UK-wide telehealth providers accept patients from any UK location. Costs are typically £600–£900 with appointments available within 2–6 weeks. Your screening report is equally valid for private referrals
• Shared care — works the same way across all UK nations. Your private specialist writes to your GP with a treatment plan, who takes over prescribing and monitoring. The acceptance rate is broadly similar to England

If you are close to the English border, some patients register with an English GP to access Right to Choose, though this is not straightforward and we would recommend seeking advice from ADHD UK before attempting this route.

Your rights as a patient

Navigating the ADHD system in the UK can feel overwhelming, but you have clear legal protections:

• The NHS Constitution guarantees your right to choose your provider for first outpatient appointments. This is the legal basis for Right to Choose and cannot be overridden by local commissioning decisions
• The Equality Act 2010 classifies ADHD as a disability when it has a substantial, long-term effect on day-to-day activities. This entitles you to reasonable adjustments in the workplace, education and when accessing services — even before formal diagnosis if you have substantial evidence of the condition
• The right to a second opinion. If your GP refuses to refer you, you can request to see another GP within the same practice, or register with a different practice. You can also ask your chosen Right to Choose provider to contact the GP directly
• The right to your medical records. Under GDPR, you can request full access to your medical records including referral letters and clinical notes. This is useful if you need to challenge a refusal or transfer care between providers
• PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) is available at every NHS trust to help resolve concerns about your care. If your referral is being blocked or delayed without clinical justification, PALS can intervene

Knowing your rights transforms your interaction with the system. You are not asking for a favour — you are exercising legal entitlements. Our GP appointment guide includes word-for-word scripts for asserting these rights professionally.

The waiting period is preparation time

Daily exercise, sleep optimisation, coping strategies and evidence gathering — every step you take now strengthens your position at assessment and improves your daily functioning immediately.

What to do while you wait

Whether you are waiting weeks or months for your assessment, you do not have to put life on hold. The waiting period is not wasted time — it is preparation time. Start building your toolkit now:

• Learn coping strategies — time management, task initiation and environment design work regardless of diagnosis status. Many people find that implementing these strategies during the waiting period produces immediate improvements in daily functioning
• Understand your brain — learning about executive function, working memory and the dopamine system helps you work with your brain rather than against it. Understanding why you struggle with certain tasks removes the self-blame and opens the door to practical solutions
• Gather childhood evidence — contact your parents, find old school reports, note down childhood memories of inattention or hyperactivity. This will be needed for assessment. If school reports mention "could try harder," "easily distracted," "not reaching potential" or "daydreams in class," these are valuable. Ask family members to write a brief statement about your behaviour as a child
• Track your symptoms — keep a brief daily log of focus difficulties, emotional reactions, sleep issues and task completion. Rate focus and mood on a 1–10 scale each evening. After 4–8 weeks, this log provides compelling evidence for your assessor and removes the unreliability of trying to remember how the past months felt
• Exercise daily — Research shows 30 minutes of cardio increases dopamine and norepinephrine — the same neurotransmitters targeted by ADHD medication. See our exercise guide for ADHD-specific recommendations including which types of exercise produce the strongest cognitive benefits
• Fix your sleep — ADHD and sleep disruption are closely linked. Poor sleep worsens every ADHD symptom. Our sleep guide covers circadian rhythm issues, racing thoughts at bedtime and ADHD-specific strategies that standard sleep hygiene advice misses
• Tell your employer (if ready) — even without diagnosis, you can request informal adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. Many employers will accommodate reasonable requests proactively. Access to Work grants of up to £16,000 per year can fund ADHD coaching, noise-cancelling equipment and assistive technology. See our workplace rights page for full guidance
• Connect with others — ADHD support communities can provide validation, practical advice and emotional support during the waiting period. ADHD UK offers peer support groups, and local ADHD charities often run in-person meetups. Knowing you are not alone in this experience makes a significant difference
• Consider a follow-up scan — if you started exercise, improved sleep or made other lifestyle changes during the wait, a repeat qEEG screening can show whether these changes have produced measurable shifts in your brain activity. This data adds further evidence to your case and demonstrates proactive engagement with your health

Frequently asked questions