Patient Guide: Your Right to Choose ADHD assessment

How to prepare and what to expect from your ADHD assessment

Step 1: Booking Your Assessment

How to book

  • Make an appointment with your GP.
  • Ask to be referred to Psychiatry UK for an ADHD assessment under the Right to Choose (RTC) scheme.
  • It can be helpful to fill out our letter template and ASRS form to take to your GP.

Will I have to pay?

No, your assessment will be funded by the NHS if you book through RTC.

Who can use this service?

To be referred to us under RTC, you must:

  • Be aged 18 or over 
  • Live and be registered with a GP in England (excludes Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland).
  • Provide an email address and/or a mobile phone number 
  • Be able to provide photo ID and proof of address 
  • Agree to the use of an online patient portal 
  • Agree to an online video consultation/assessment 

How will I know you've received my referral?

When your referral has been processed:

  • It can take up to 8 weeks to process your referral.
  • You will receive a Welcome email. 
  • This email contains a link to set up your MedQare patient portal account.  
  • Your name will be added to our assessment waiting list.
  • Click here to check our current waiting times.

Important to know:

  • Your assessment will take place via a Teams video call.
  • All our communications are online using our patient portal.

Step 2: Preparing for Your Assessment

You must complete a pre-assessment checklist before you can book your appointment.

What's in the checklist?

Your Portal Profile 

  • Go to ‘My Profile’ in your MedQare portal dashboard. 
  • Fill in all your personal details. 

Identity Verification 

  • Upload photo ID (passport, driving licence etc.).  
  • Upload proof of address (utility bill, bank statement, etc.). 
  • This is mandatory for online assessments. 

Pre-assessment Questionnaires 

You will find these under Forms > Pending Forms in your portal: 

  • Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS)  
  • ADHD Self Report   
  • ADHD Informant Report   
  • Heart Questionnaire 

If you still have school reports, please upload these too.  They can be very helpful. 

The Informant Report

  • This must be completed by someone who knows you well (ideally since before age 12) and who has known you for the longest period of time (e.g. a parent, sibling, partner or friend). 
  • If you do not have anyone suitable, please let us know. 

Why this matters: As ADHD is a developmental condition, we need objective collateral information from your childhood to assist your clinician with the assessment. Please do not complete this form yourself.

Why your forms are important

These help your doctor understand: 

  • Your daily life and routines. 
  • Your relationships. 
  • Your work or education experiences. 
  • Your family and medical history. 

The assessment process involves gathering as much information and documentation as possible for your clinician to match against the ‘core’ characteristics of ADHD outlined in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition).

Standardised pre-assessment questionnaires are a structured way to start collecting this information and are instrumental in helping your clinician reach an accurate diagnosis.

We recommend putting aside some quiet time to gather your evidence and complete your forms, giving as much information as possible to help your consultant start building a picture of your life, your symptoms and the challenges they present.

Step 3: Booking Your Appointment

Your booking link

You can only book once you have: 

When this is complete: 

  • We will send you a booking link by email and SMS. 
  • Click the link to see available times and doctors. 
  • You can read each doctor’s profile before choosing. 
  • Appointments are available 7 days a week, from 6am to 11pm.

Checking your equipment

You will need: 

  • A computer, laptop or tablet with a camera and microphone. 
  • Most modern devices already have these. 

To check your device: 

  • Go to the Test Your Device tab at the top of the Psychiatry UK website. 
  • Allow the site to access your camera and microphone when prompted. 
  • We recommend using the Microsoft Teams app for the best experience. 
  • You do not need a Microsoft account. 
  • If you don’t want to install the app, please use the most recent version of Microsoft Edge browser. 

Step 4: Accessibility and Adjustments

What adjustments can I request?

It’s important for you to feel comfortable in your assessment. If it’s helpful, you can request: 

  • Communication support (for example, shorter questions, more time to reply, or written prompts). 
  • Adjustments for sensory needs. 

For deaf and hard of hearing patients: 

We can provide: 

  • 90-minute appointments (instead of 60 minutes). 
  • A qualified interpreter (with the option to meet them 10–15 minutes before your session). 
  • A second interpreter if needed. 
  • Your choice of sign language (e.g., BSL, Signed English). 
  • Live transcription during your appointment. 
  • Ask your doctor and/or interpreter if you need clarification on the live transcription. This helps to reduce any misunderstandings or errors.  

Please let our customer support team know your preferences via our Live Chat or telephone support line: 0330 124 1980 (Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm). 

Step 5: Your Online Consultation

What to expect

  • Your appointment will last about 1 hour and will take place on Microsoft Teams. 
  • We recommend finding a quiet, private place where you feel comfortable and can talk freely. 
  • You are welcome to have a family member join you if you would like. 

At the start of your assessment

  • Your doctor will introduce themselves and explain the purpose of the session. 
  • They will ask to see your photo ID to confirm your identity. 
  • They will ask whether you’re happy for the consultation to be recorded. 
  • If you do not want it to be recorded, please say so clearly. 
  • Your doctor must still keep accurate written notes. These notes go into your Psychiatry UK patient record.

During the assessment

  • Please keep your camera on throughout. Observation is an important part of the process. 
  • The doctor will follow a structured format to make sure all diagnostic criteria are covered within the session time. 

They will: 

  • Review the information from your pre-assessment questionnaires.
  • Ask questions about your history, experiences, and current challenges. 
  • Gather a complete psychiatric history. 
  • Consider whether you may have other conditions that are often linked to ADHD.
  • Observation and discussion together help the doctor look for the ‘core’ characteristics of ADHD. 

Important to know 

  • If any questions make you feel uncomfortable, please tell your doctor. You will not be pressured to share anything you do not want to. 
  • If you want to add more information after the session, you can: 
    • Write a note in your MedQare portal 
    • Ask your doctor to consider this information before finalising your diagnosis 

Step 6: Your Results and Next Steps

At the end of your assessment

  • Your doctor will explain their findings. 
  • They will give you a diagnosis, if appropriate. 
  • You will get a written report within 14 working days. 
  • A copy of the report will be sent to your GP. 

What your report will include

  • Your diagnosis (if applicable). 
  • Your personalised treatment plan.
  • Resources and support options. 

Your treatment plan

Your treatment plan will include: 

  • Medication treatment options. 
  • Non-medication options (therapy, coaching, skills training). 
  • Where to find ongoing support. 

Treatment and Support Options

Medication treatment

  • If medication is recommended, you can ask to be referred to our Titration Service. 
  • You can find out more about the different types of ADHD medication here.

Non-medication options

Your doctor may also recommend non-pharmacological treatment(s) which can be beneficial in helping to reduce the challenges of your condition.

There are a number of therapies that can help:

  • Relationship or family therapy 
  • Coaching / life skills training 
  • Occupational therapy 
  • Employment advice /workplace adjustments 
  • Sensory support. 
  • Psychotherapy for related conditions 
  • Self-help books, websites, and online forums can help too. 

Resources and support

Useful books: 

  • Change your Brain, Change your Life by Daniel Amen 
  • Organise Your Mind, Organise Your Life by Margaret Moore & Paul Hammerness. 

Additional resources: 

Getting Help

  • If you need urgent advice or support, please follow the guidance on our website.
  • For all general enquiries, please contact our customer support team via the Live Chat or telephone support line: 0330 124 1980 (Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm).
  • IT support guides are available under the Information Hub tab on our website for help with logging into your portal, resetting your password or 2FA (two-factor authentication).

You are now ready for your assessment journey.