NHS waiting times in Manchester for ADHD
NHS ADHD access in Manchester is currently restricted
Greater Manchester ICB temporarily held back new non-urgent Right to Choose ADHD bookings from September 2025 while redesigning its ADHD service. Right to Choose remains a legal right. Check with your GP for the current position before pursuing an NHS-funded route.
GMMH does not publish a single combined wait figure. NHS Greater Manchester ICB has stated that waiting lists are expected to exceed 25,000 people across the region without significant service changes. Services are structured by borough (for example, the Wigan service). From September 2025, the ICB temporarily held back new non-urgent Right to Choose bookings while redesigning the service model.
Greater Manchester has one of the largest adult ADHD waiting populations in England. A major public consultation in 2025 resulted in a new service model moving toward clinical risk prioritisation, a significant policy shift from the standard queue-based approach used elsewhere.
NHS Greater Manchester ran a public consultation on ADHD service redesign between April and June 2025, engaging over 2,500 people. The new model, published October 2025, moves toward clinical risk prioritisation rather than queue-based assessment. From September 2025, new non-urgent Right to Choose bookings were temporarily paused during this transition.
Your options in Manchester
There are currently several routes to an adult ADHD assessment for people in Manchester.
Not publicly stated; waiting lists expected to exceed 25,000 people across Greater Manchester
Referrals accepted subject to GP assessment and local capacity.
Approximately 44 weeks through Right to Choose providers in this ICB
New non-urgent Right to Choose bookings were temporarily held back from September 2025 while Greater Manchester ICB redesigned its ADHD service model. Right to Choose remains a legal right; the ICB's new model aims to prioritise by clinical risk rather than referral order.
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 Manchester 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 Manchester, 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 Manchester 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 Manchester reflects publicly available information from Greater Manchester 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.