NHS waiting times in Birmingham for ADHD
NHS ADHD access in Birmingham is currently restricted
Birmingham and Solihull ICB has paused new referrals to certain Right to Choose providers for 2025/26. If you are seeking NHS-funded assessment in Birmingham, check with your GP which routes remain open. Right to Choose remains a legal right and alternative providers are available.
A Freedom of Information response to BSMHFT showed an expected wait of nearly 300 weeks based on 2022–23 capacity figures. Birmingham and Solihull ICB has paused new referrals to several private Right to Choose providers for 2025/26 to manage demand, while keeping NHS Trust services and other Right to Choose providers open.
Birmingham and Solihull is one of the largest adult ADHD waiting lists in England. The West Midlands has seen sustained growth in referral demand, and local commissioners have been managing capacity constraints across both NHS Trust and independent provider pathways.
Birmingham and Solihull ICB has paused new referrals to several private Right to Choose providers for the remainder of 2025/26 while it manages demand. The NHS Trust service itself continues to accept referrals.
Your options in Birmingham
There are currently several routes to an adult ADHD assessment for people in Birmingham.
Approximately 5 years 9 months, with new referrals to some providers currently restricted
Referrals accepted subject to GP assessment and local capacity.
Approximately 44 weeks through Right to Choose providers currently active in this ICB
Some Right to Choose providers have been paused by Birmingham and Solihull ICB; Right to Choose remains a legal right and other providers remain available.
Within days
Private assessment by a GMC-registered consultant psychiatrist. £799 all inclusive. Full report within 7 days. No referral needed.
Ready to book your Birmingham assessment?
Available by video call. No referral needed. Report within 7 days.
What a Distinct assessment involves
A Distinct assessment is a 60 to 90 minute structured clinical interview conducted by a GMC-registered consultant psychiatrist via secure video call. It uses the DIVA-5 diagnostic interview alongside validated symptom rating scales, following DSM-5 criteria throughout. You can attend from anywhere in England including Birmingham, without travelling.
Before your appointment you complete a pre-assessment questionnaire covering your symptoms, history, and daily functioning. At the end of the consultation your psychiatrist shares their clinical conclusion verbally. Your full written report follows within 7 days.
All Distinct assessments are conducted directly by the consultant psychiatrist, not reviewed or countersigned by one. This distinction matters for GP acceptance and shared-care prescribing.
Your report and what it enables
Your written diagnostic report is delivered within 7 days of your consultation. It covers your symptom history, the DSM-5 criteria met, the impact on your daily functioning, and clinical recommendations for next steps. It includes a letter addressed to your GP summarising the findings.
Your report can also be used for workplace adjustments under the Equality Act, Disabled Students' Allowance applications, and DVLA disclosure where required. There is no time limit on when you can use it.
Most Birmingham GPs will accept a diagnosis from a GMC-registered consultant psychiatrist for shared-care prescribing. NHS England guidance indicates GPs should not normally refuse prescribing following a diagnosis from a qualified specialist. We recommend discussing shared-care with your practice alongside booking your assessment. More on sharing your report with your GP.
Frequently asked questions
NHS waiting time data for Birmingham reflects publicly available information from Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and the relevant ICB, current as of April 2026. Waiting times change and we recommend verifying current figures directly with your GP or the relevant trust.