Private Adult ADHD Assessments in Scotland
If difficulties with concentration, organisation, forgetfulness or impulsivity regularly affect your everyday life, you may be wondering whether ADHD could be part of the explanation. Right Medicine Pharmacy offers structured private adult ADHD assessments at selected locations across Scotland.
The service is provided in partnership with Makewell, a specialist healthcare provider offering mental health and neurodevelopmental assessments. It combines preparatory questionnaires, an extended face-to-face appointment and clinical follow-up to establish whether your symptoms and history meet the recognised diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
The complete adult ADHD assessment costs £995. You can self-refer without first obtaining a referral from your GP.
Could Your Experiences Be Related to ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, usually shortened to ADHD, is a neurodevelopmental condition. Although its characteristics begin during childhood, some people reach adulthood without being assessed or diagnosed.
Adults with ADHD can experience different combinations of inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Possible experiences include:
- Finding it difficult to concentrate or remain focused
- Becoming distracted easily, including during important tasks
- Frequently forgetting appointments, instructions or belongings
- Struggling with organisation and time management
- Starting tasks but finding it difficult to complete them
- Feeling physically or mentally restless
- Making decisions or speaking impulsively
- Finding it difficult to manage several competing priorities
- Underestimating how long activities will take
- Feeling overwhelmed by everyday responsibilities
Experiencing some of these difficulties does not necessarily mean that you have ADHD. Similar experiences can be associated with stress, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, other neurodevelopmental conditions or physical health concerns. A detailed clinical assessment considers alternative explanations as well as the possibility of ADHD.
You can learn more about common characteristics, diagnosis and support on the NHS Inform ADHD in adults page.
How Does the Private ADHD Assessment Work?
The assessment follows a four-stage pathway. Each stage helps the clinical team build a detailed understanding of your current experiences, developmental history and day-to-day functioning.
1. Complete Your Self-Referral
Begin by submitting the private ADHD assessment enquiry form. Makewell will contact you and explain the next steps, including the information required before your face-to-face appointment.
You will be asked about your symptoms, medical background and reasons for seeking an assessment. More detailed pre-assessment questionnaires will then help the clinical team prepare for your appointment.
2. Attend Your Face-to-Face Appointment
Your in-person appointment will take place at your chosen participating Right Medicine Pharmacy. It normally lasts approximately two to three hours.
The appointment includes a computerised ADHD test that measures areas such as attention and response control. You will also complete an extended clinical assessment with a trained specialist pharmacist.
The clinician may ask about:
- Your current symptoms and how they affect everyday life
- Experiences during childhood, education and employment
- Organisation, concentration and time management
- Relationships, responsibilities and emotional well-being
- Your physical and mental health history
- Any medication or treatment you currently receive
- Other factors that could contribute to your experiences
Answer as openly and accurately as possible. The purpose is not to give particular “right” answers but to help the clinical team understand your individual experiences.
3. Complete the Clinical Follow-Up
Within two weeks of your pharmacy appointment, you will have a follow-up call with a Makewell clinician. This provides an opportunity to discuss the assessment, clarify relevant information, ask questions and learn what will happen next.
4. Receive Your Assessment Report
You will receive a comprehensive clinical report confirming the assessment findings and whether the diagnostic criteria for ADHD have been met. The report will normally be issued within eight weeks of your follow-up consultation.
An assessment does not automatically result in an ADHD diagnosis. Its purpose is to reach an evidence-based clinical conclusion after considering the available information.
Where Are Assessments Available?
Face-to-face adult ADHD assessment appointments are currently offered at five Right Medicine Pharmacy locations:
- Carronshore
- Ochiltree
- Roseburn, Edinburgh
- Buckpool
- Forres
Select your preferred location when completing the enquiry form. You can also use our pharmacy locator to find further information about Right Medicine Pharmacy branches.
What Is Included in the £995 Assessment Fee?
The £995 fee covers the complete adult ADHD assessment pathway, including:
- Pre-assessment screening and questionnaires
- Review of your referral information
- QB Check computerised testing
- A two to three-hour face-to-face clinical assessment
- Clinical follow-up with Makewell
- A comprehensive ADHD assessment report
- Discussion of the findings and possible next steps
The assessment fee does not include medication, continuing clinical care or private prescribing. Ask the provider about any additional charges before agreeing to further treatment.
What Happens After the Assessment?
Your next steps will depend on the assessment findings and your individual needs. If you are diagnosed with ADHD, the clinical team can discuss different forms of support that may be appropriate.
These could include:
- Practical lifestyle and self-management strategies
- ADHD coaching
- Psychological or talking therapies
- Reasonable adjustments at work or in education
- Further clinical support
- Medication, where clinically appropriate
Receiving a diagnosis does not mean that you must take medication. Treatment is individual, and not everyone with ADHD needs or wants medicine. NHS Inform provides an overview of clinical treatments for ADHD.
If medication may be suitable, Makewell can discuss private treatment and prescribing options with you. Any recommendation will depend on an additional clinical assessment of your health, circumstances and eligibility. Medication, monitoring, prescriptions and ongoing treatment are charged separately from the £995 assessment.
Our pharmacists can provide general guidance about using prescribed medicines through the Medicine Advice service, but changes to ADHD treatment must be agreed with the responsible prescriber.
Private Diagnosis and NHS Shared Care
A private ADHD assessment does not guarantee that your GP will take over prescribing or monitoring through the NHS. Shared-care arrangements depend on the decision of your GP practice, the prescribing clinician and applicable local NHS policies.
Before starting private treatment, ask Makewell to explain the expected costs for medication, reviews and prescriptions. You may need to continue paying privately if your GP cannot accept a shared-care arrangement.
Do not stop an existing medicine, alter its dose or use somebody else’s ADHD medication. Treatment should only be taken as prescribed and reviewed by the clinician responsible for your care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a GP referral?
No. This service accepts self-referrals, so you can make an enquiry directly. Relevant medical information may still be required as part of the assessment.
How long does the assessment take?
The face-to-face appointment normally takes approximately two to three hours. Questionnaires, information review and clinical follow-up take place separately before and after the appointment.
Will I definitely receive an ADHD diagnosis?
No. The assessment establishes whether your symptoms and history meet the recognised clinical criteria. The clinician may conclude that the criteria are not met or that another explanation should be explored.
Is ADHD medication included?
No. The £995 charge covers the assessment pathway and report. Medication, private prescriptions, monitoring and continuing treatment are separate services and may involve additional charges.
Can my GP prescribe medication after a private diagnosis?
Possibly, but this cannot be promised. Your GP must decide whether they can enter a shared-care arrangement under the relevant local policy. Continuing private treatment may be necessary if shared care is unavailable.
Take the First Step Towards Greater Clarity
A professional assessment can help you understand whether ADHD contributes to the difficulties you experience and identify appropriate next steps. Right Medicine Pharmacy and Makewell provide a structured pathway combining in-person assessment with specialist clinical review.
Start your private ADHD assessment enquiry and select your preferred participating pharmacy. Submitting the form begins the enquiry process and does not guarantee a diagnosis or particular treatment.
If you have questions before proceeding, contact the Right Medicine Pharmacy team for further guidance.