The short answer
A private ADHD diagnosis is not automatically accepted or continued by the NHS. Your GP can read the report and add it to your record, but that is a separate step from prescribing. Taking over ADHD medication under a shared care agreement is voluntary for GP practices, and many decline it when the diagnosis comes from a private provider.
That does not make a private assessment pointless. It does mean you should know what a report can and cannot do before you pay for one, and ask your GP practice about its policy first.
What is shared care?
Shared care is an arrangement where a specialist starts a medication and your GP later takes over the prescribing, with the specialist still available for support. NICE guideline NG87 describes ADHD medication moving to shared care with primary care after the dose has been adjusted and is stable. It describes how care can be organised; it does not oblige any particular GP to take part.
The General Medical Council is clear that shared care “requires the agreement of all parties, including the patient”, and that a GP who takes on part of the responsibility must be competent to do so.
Does my GP have to accept a private diagnosis?
No. The British Medical Association describes shared care prescribing as “non-core voluntary activity that can be declined by the GP practice for any reason”. Reasons it gives include capacity in the practice, confidence with the medication, and a lack of assurance about ongoing specialist support. The BMA also notes that checking a provider’s quality and governance “will be more challenging if the provider is not commissioned by the NHS”.
Some Integrated Care Boards have gone further. Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB, for example, states that it has “no local policy in place that allows shared care between non-NHS commissioned private providers and NHS prescribers”. A growing number of GP practices publish similar policies of their own.
At a glance
- A private diagnosis is not automatically accepted or continued by the NHS.
- Shared care is voluntary for GP practices and can be declined for any reason.
- Some ICBs have no arrangement for shared care with private providers.
- Right to Choose applies in England and needs a GP referral to an NHS-contracted provider.
Sources: BMA, NICE NG87, NHS Choice Framework. Checked September 2026.
Who can diagnose ADHD in adults?
NICE NG87 says ADHD should only be diagnosed by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in diagnosing ADHD. Whether a GP is comfortable relying on a particular report is their clinical judgement, and there is no official NHS, GMC or government statement about diagnoses made by clinicians registered outside the UK. We would rather tell you that plainly than promise something no one can guarantee.
What about NHS Right to Choose?
In England, the NHS Choice Framework lets you ask your GP to refer you to another provider that holds an NHS contract for the service, including for an ADHD assessment. The referral has to come from your GP and it only covers NHS-contracted providers. The arrangements are different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
What can a private report still do for me?
- Give you a clear, written answer about whether you have ADHD, and why.
- Explain how it affects you day to day, with practical recommendations.
- Support a request for workplace adjustments. Access to Work can fund practical support based on how a condition affects your job, and does not depend on NHS prescribing.
- Help you and the people around you understand what has been going on.
What should I do before I book?
- Ask your GP practice whether it has a shared care policy for private ADHD diagnoses.
- If you mainly want medication through the NHS, ask your GP about a Right to Choose referral.
- If you mainly want an answer and a report you can use now, a private assessment may suit you better.
- Tell any provider what you hope to use the report for, so you are not paying for the wrong thing.
If your practice has told you it will not accept a private diagnosis, tell us before you book. We would rather lose the booking than take it under a misunderstanding.
Frequently asked questions
Will my GP prescribe ADHD medication after a private diagnosis?
Not necessarily. Prescribing under shared care is voluntary for GP practices, and many decline it for private providers. Ask your practice about its policy before you book.
Can my GP refuse shared care?
Yes. The BMA describes shared care as non-core voluntary activity that a GP practice can decline for any reason, as long as refusals are applied consistently.
Is Right to Choose free?
Yes. In England, an assessment through Right to Choose is NHS-funded, but it needs a referral from your GP and only covers providers with an NHS contract.
Is a private report useful without medication?
It can be. It gives you a written explanation and recommendations, and it can support workplace adjustments through schemes such as Access to Work.
