Useful places
Plain-English pointers to trusted UK information about adult ADHD. I’m not a clinician, so these point you to the people who are.
Just so you know: this is general information only. It isn’t medical, legal or financial advice, and it can’t diagnose ADHD or recommend treatment. Only a qualified clinician can do that. Please don’t start, stop or change medication without medical advice. If things feel heavy, here’s a gentle page with people to talk to.
Where to start reading
From the very first ADHDre post: “a fantastic place to get started with some reading”. ADDitude is a long-running magazine and website about ADHD. It is written mostly for a North American audience, so some of the services it mentions are not UK ones.
Getting an assessment
The NHS suggests starting with your GP if symptoms affect study, work or relationships. Your GP asks about your history and may check for other explanations. If you’re referred, a specialist looks at your history across areas such as childhood, work and family.
NHS: ADHD in adults (opens another website in a new tab) · ADHD UK: diagnosis pathways (opens another website in a new tab)
Waiting and choices
The NHS says waits vary and can be long. In England, “Right to Choose” lets you ask to be referred to a provider offering NHS-funded ADHD assessments, which can mean a shorter wait. Availability is changing, and some areas have reportedly limited referrals, so check with your GP and the provider first.
Updated October 2026: in 2026 some areas have started limiting Right to Choose referrals through local prioritisation (for example, Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s NHS update (opens another website in a new tab)), and NHS England’s ADHD Taskforce summary (opens another website in a new tab) (December 2025) says some people wait more than 2 years for an assessment, and that in some areas waits have grown to 10 to 15 years. It also says people should not have to wait for a diagnosis before getting help. What applies varies a lot by area, so check your own area’s NHS (ICB) website and ask your GP.
Private assessment and funding requests are other routes. They have costs and rules of their own, and a private diagnosis doesn’t always mean your GP can take over prescribing.
ADHD UK: Right to Choose (opens another website in a new tab) · Private diagnosis (opens another website in a new tab)
Preparing for an appointment
- Write down real examples of how things show up, and where (work, home, relationships).
- Note when it started. Old school reports can help if you have them.
- Bring questions, and consider bringing someone who knows you.
- Ask what happens next and roughly when.
ADHD at work
Acas explains that being neurodivergent often counts as a disability under the Equality Act 2010, which can mean a right to reasonable adjustments. Employers are responsible for those. Access to Work is a separate government grant that can fund extra support at work. Citizens Advice can help if you think you’ve been treated unfairly.
Trusted sources
- NHS (opens another website in a new tab)
- NICE guideline NG87: ADHD diagnosis and management (opens another website in a new tab)
- ADHD UK (opens another website in a new tab)
Content is for England and may differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Information changes, so check the linked sources for the latest. Last reviewed October 2026.