Private ADHD Clinics Exposed: Red Flags and What You Should be Looking For

You may have seen the recent BBC Panorama about an undercover reporter gaining an ADHD diagnosis from 3 private ADHD clinics, via video calls. The reporter also gained a more detailed, in-person assessment and diagnosis through the NHS, which showed him as not having ADHD. Following this, Panorama spoke to dozens of other patients of these clinics who also reported rushed and poor-quality assessments.

These findings are dangerous and potentially harmful to the public seeking help in private clinics for answers to their struggles. NHS wait lists are expanding due to an increased awareness of the condition and the success of treatments, this is why so much trust and money is being put into private clinics.

We thought it was important to discuss the findings from the BBC documentary and create awareness of what to look out for if you are thinking of taking your ADHD healthcare private.

Overview of the BBC ADHD exposé.

The investigation of 3 private ADHD clinics found that very limited health assessments were carried out on their patients. Powerful drugs for the treatment of ADHD were prescribed for long-term use, without consideration of the patient's medical history or advice on possible side effects. It can take more than 5 years to secure an NHS assessment, so the NHS is also paying for thousands of its patients to go private.

The undercover reporter received an in-depth assessment via the NHS before his assessments with the private clinics, which involved a preliminary questionnaire about habits and childhood history before a 3-hour face-to-face appointment involving a full psychiatric assessment following the guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

This in-depth assessment resulted in a diagnosis of the reporter not having ADHD. However, one of the private ADHD clinics scored the reporter 15 out of 18 after a 45-minute video call, claiming that he was “diagnosed for life” and a follow-up appointment with a psychiatrist a week later where he was prescribed a stimulant called Methylphenidate, a standard treatment for ADHD. Another private ADHD clinic issued a more in-depth tick box exercise around medical history, which was followed up with an ADHD diagnosis and a prescription for stimulants. The last private ADHD clinic found the reporter being assessed by a pharmacist who didn’t take a full psychiatric history but diagnosed the reporter with ADHD after just over an hour’s assessment, prescribing more stimulant medication without proper checks.

There were significant costs in all 3 of these private ADHD clinics, which doesn’t equal the time, attention, care, and proper handling of medication that it requires. Full, in-depth medical and psychiatric histories should be obtained before a diagnosis and the offer of ADHD medication, such as Methylphenidate, which can have serious side effects for those with heart problems and certain mental health issues.

Private ADHD clinics: Red Flags to Look Out For 

Considering the BBC interview, we thought it was important to list some of the red flags that may mean a person or practice is not a UK-registered psychiatrist or appropriately qualified healthcare professional. Some of the main points to look out for are:

• The practice or “professional” has no fixed address.

• The assessment isn’t comprehensive and doesn’t cover full mental health, medical or psychiatric history.

• The assessment doesn’t seek to understand your developmental and social history 

• The assessment does not seek corroborative information from someone who knows you well

• Other treatment options such as coaching or therapy are not explained.

• No option to meet psychiatrists in person.

• A rush to prescribe medication without you being fully informed or comfortable 

Gaining Assessment and Diagnosis for Adult ADHD

 If you’re reading this, chances are you think you may have ADHD, but if you are still unsure then a good place to start is to take an online ADHD screener, we can recommend the ADHDUK screener here.

Choose a specialist ADHD assessment provider.

This can be a UK registered psychiatrist, who is a medically qualified doctor specialising in psychiatry, a specialist ADHD nurse with additional formal training and accreditation in ADHD, or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in the diagnosis of ADHD. These include psychologists, as they can provide an assessment of ADHD but are unable to prescribe ADHD medication. It’s important to note that some assessment providers require a GP referral letter, so it is always worth checking with your chosen provider before booking.

ADHD Assessment.

You could choose to have a specialist assessment with the NHS primarily, which should cover your overall mental health, an assessment of if you have ADHD, and an assessment of if you may have other related mental health issues. An NHS psychiatrist will go through several checklists over a 45 to 90-minute discussion with you, which will lead to a possible diagnosis of ADHD, consideration of medication options, and a plan for treatment and follow-up.

Continued Care.

An ongoing care plan is essential if you have just gained an ADHD diagnosis, this can be done either by continued care from your diagnostic provider, or shared care between your provider and your GP. These options should be discussed with your psychiatrist to ensure that your provider can work in this way, and to provide the optimal care for you. 

After the diagnosis.

Gaining an ADHD diagnosis can be both a relief and a challenge. Finally understanding why, you have been feeling the way you do for so long can feel like a weight lifted but it can also feel overwhelming trying to gain a new understanding of yourself. The only real change in a person after an ADHD diagnosis is that they are now equipped with the knowledge and the option to do with that knowledge what they will. 

Gaining Assessment and Diagnosis for ADHD in Children.

Identifying ADHD in children will be slightly different as they are likely to be in a school environment. If ADHD is suspected by education providers, then the school's special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) may be the child's primary help in the school environment. This can involve a referral to a GP where an assessment is made of the severity of ADHD and how it affects them personally and the parents or caregivers. After this, it is usually advised that a period of watchful waiting is undertaken for up to 10 weeks and if the behaviours persist, it is then that referral to secondary care would be made, which involves either a child psychiatrist, paediatrician, or specialist ADHD CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) for assessment.

It is still possible to choose whether to use an NHS psychiatrist or a private ADHD specialist for your child after the above steps have been made.

A checklist for choosing a certified specialist ADHD clinic

• Ensure your assessment is with a UK-registered psychiatrist or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

• Check that the person carrying out the assessment is part of the GMC (General Medical Council) or other relevant body (HCPC,NMC)

• Thorough assessments are carried out, covering full developmental, medical, mental health, and psychiatric history.

• A full, ongoing care and support plan should be offered, and medication shouldn’t be offered without a full discussion of your options first.

Beyond Clinic: Pioneering Change in ADHD Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Here at Beyond, we have a team of renowned psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, and doctors, dedicated to health and well-being and the proper assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of ADHD. Our team are registered with the GMC (General Medical Council) the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery council) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Beyond is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Our complete, end-to-end process includes assessment, diagnosis, treatment, management, and transfer of care and we ensure that you have a programme designed for life. Our assessments are diligent, and we do not test for the sake of testing. 

If you would like to speak to Beyond Clinic’s friendly team about obtaining an ADHD assessment or about ADHD treatment plans, you can get in touch here.