CARE ADHD - Waiting times

Last updated: January 2026

We know waiting can be difficult, especially when you’re ready to move forward and want clarity about what’s happening next. At CARE ADHD, we aim to be open and realistic about timelines, while recognising that individual journeys can vary.

The information below reflects typical experiences based on recent months. Times may be shorter or longer depending on demand, clinical capacity, regional NHS funding decisions, and how quickly forms are completed.

💡 For context: published NHS data shows ADHD assessment waits can often be 24–36 months (and sometimes longer depending on region). At CARE ADHD, we measure waits in weeks rather than years.

Step 1 – Referral received
Your GP sends us your referral and we issue pre-assessment forms, usually within around a week.

Step 2 – Forms returned
Once your completed forms are received, you enter the booking queue.

Step 3 – Assessment booking
Patients will hear from our bookings team within 1–2 weeks of completing their pre-assessment forms.

⚠️ Patients on the revalidation pathway will experience different wait-times to the above. Please visit Revalidation (NHS Right to Choose) for more information.

We know that the wait to begin medication can feel particularly hard, especially once you’ve received a diagnosis.

Based on recent data:

• For patients who attended their first titration appointment in November and December, the time from submitting a titration request to their first appointment was typically up to 12–16 weeks.

  This does not mean that everyone who submitted a request during that period was seen within that timeframe. Individual journeys vary depending on factors such as clinical readiness, additional information required, and prioritisation for safety reasons.

This stage takes longer because every case must be clinically reviewed by a prescriber, including physical health information, medication suitability, and any co-existing conditions. These checks are essential for patient safety.

• After your final outcome letter is confirmed, your request enters the titration queue.

• Due to national demand, prescriber capacity, and safety checks, current waits are longer than we would like and vary significantly.

• At this stage, we cannot safely give individual booking timeframes.

• We contact patients as soon as appointments become available

• All cases are reviewed in order, with safety as the priority

Private pathways are funded and scheduled separately from NHS services.

Most private patients are typically seen within a few weeks of completing their forms, provided all information is returned promptly.

⚠️ If you book privately but later submit an NHS referral (including Right to Choose), your private appointment will usually be cancelled and your NHS referral used instead. This ensures fairness, as NHS and private capacity are managed separately.

Delays are most often caused by:

• Missing or incomplete forms

• High volumes at specific stages of the pathway

• Regional NHS funding decisions

To help avoid delays:

• Save our number +44 20 4525 0709 so you don’t miss our call

• Avoid sending repeated emails unless your wait has gone beyond typical timeframes - duplicate contact can slow responses for everyone

We’re continuously working to improve clarity, flow, and turnaround times. This includes:

• Expanding clinical and administrative capacity

• Streamlining booking and review processes

• Improving communication and transparency for patients

These changes are ongoing, and we’ll continue to share updates as progress is made.

We are currently responding to general queries sent 1-2 weeks ago, in the order received. If your referral or payment was made more recently, please wait before contacting us; chasing too early slows the queue for everyone.

We’re proud to deliver high-quality ADHD care at scale, and we’re always improving. Thank you for your patience. We’ll be with you every step of the way.