NHS waiting times in Liverpool for ADHD
The NHS adult ADHD service in Liverpool is closed to new referrals
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's adult ADHD service is currently closed to new referrals. New clinical thresholds introduced by Cheshire and Merseyside ICB in December 2025 now apply to all ADHD assessment referrals in this area, including Right to Choose. Speak with your GP about current access routes.
CWP's adult ADHD service closed to new referrals as of late 2025, with limited exceptions. Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust covers Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, South Sefton and Halton but does not publish a specific wait figure, citing very high demand. NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB spending on ADHD grew from £11m in 2023/24 to £38m in 2025/26, projected to reach £51m in 2026/27.
Liverpool and the wider Cheshire and Merseyside area has seen some of the fastest growth in ADHD assessment spending in England, prompting significant commissioning policy changes from late 2025. The new access thresholds represent a notable tightening of the referral criteria compared to most other ICBs.
From 23 December 2025, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB introduced stricter clinical thresholds for adult ADHD assessment referrals. Patients must now demonstrate significant impairment in at least two areas of daily life, and that environmental modifications have been attempted first. This policy applies to both NHS and Right to Choose routes. The ICB has also begun piloting GP-delivered ADHD assessments.
Your options in Liverpool
There are currently several routes to an adult ADHD assessment for people in Liverpool.
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership's adult ADHD service is currently closed to new referrals. Mersey Care states very high demand but does not publish a specific wait.
No new referrals accepted. Existing waiting list only, prioritised by clinical need.
Approximately 44 weeks through Right to Choose providers in Cheshire and Merseyside ICB
Cheshire and Merseyside ICB introduced a new commissioning policy from 23 December 2025 requiring evidence of significant impairment in at least two areas of daily life and that environmental modifications have been tried before an ADHD assessment referral is accepted.
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 Liverpool 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 Liverpool, 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. Given that Liverpool has no functioning NHS ADHD service, the clinical authority of your report has a direct bearing on the support you can access afterwards.
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 Liverpool 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 Liverpool reflects publicly available information from Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and Cheshire and Wirral Partnership 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.