Refer Your Patients for Expert Adult ADHD Assessment and Care

Why Refer Your Patients to ADHD Specialist?

We are committed to providing a service defined by expertise, thoroughness, and clear communication, ensuring both you and your patients feel confident in the care provided.

• Addressing Concerns About Private Assessment Quality: We understand that navigating referrals for private ADHD assessments can raise questions about diagnostic rigour, particularly given the variability in the sector. At ADHD Specialist, registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and led by Dr. Stefan Ivantu, we provide reassurance through our unwavering commitment to the highest clinical standards. Unlike brief screenings or potentially superficial approaches, our comprehensive 2.5-hour assessments go far beyond simple checklists. They are conducted exclusively by experienced CCT Consultant Psychiatrists, ensuring expert clinical judgement. We adhere strictly to NICE guidelines (NG87), employing thorough clinical interviews, detailed developmental histories, analysis of collateral information where appropriate, validated rating scales, and careful differential diagnosis to ensure accuracy and reliability you can trust.
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• Uncompromising Expertise & Rigorous Standards:
  
  • Consultant Psychiatrist-Led: All assessments are conducted by Consultant Psychiatrists holding a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Psychiatry and registered on the GMC Specialist Register.
  • Extensive ADHD Experience: Our specialists possess vast, specific experience in the nuances of adult (and late adolescent) ADHD diagnosis and management.
  • Comprehensive Evaluation: The dedicated 2.5-hour assessment duration allows for the in-depth exploration necessary for complex presentations, ensuring nothing is overlooked.
  • CQC Registered: Our registration with the Care Quality Commission underscores our commitment to maintaining safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care.
• Holistic Management of Complex Presentations:
  
  • Co-occurring Conditions: We confidently assess and have extensive experience in managing conditions frequently associated with ADHD, such as anxiety disorders, depression, sleep disturbances, and emotional dysregulation, providing integrated care plans within our scope of practice.
  • Focus on Functioning: Our assessments thoroughly evaluate the real-world impact of symptoms on daily functioning, work, study, and relationships.
• Seamless Collaboration & Communication:
  
  • High-Quality Documentation: You will receive comprehensive, clear, and timely assessment reports detailing the diagnostic findings, clinical reasoning, and personalised recommendations. Our detailed reports provide transparent justification for diagnostic conclusions, giving you confidence in the findings.
  • Clear GP Communication: We prioritise efficient communication with referring GPs. We provide all necessary information to support ongoing patient care within the UK healthcare system and facilitate informed decisions regarding future management.
• Patient-Centred Goal: Enabling Patients to Thrive:
  
  • Focus on Positive Outcomes: Our ultimate aim is to support your patients in achieving positive, sustainable improvements in their well-being and functioning, moving beyond just symptom management.
  • Personalised Planning: Following assessment, we collaborate with the patient to develop tailored, evidence-based treatment and support plans, which may include psychoeducation, medication carefully initiated and titrated by our specialists, therapy, coaching, or lifestyle adjustments.
    

Who is Suitable for Referral?

Our primary focus is adults (18+). However, we may consider assessing young people aged 16-17, provided they meet the following specific criteria, ensuring their needs align with the scope of our specialist service:

• Present Primarily with Suspected ADHD: The core presenting problem should appear to be ADHD symptoms impacting functioning.
• Absence of Acute/Severe Comorbidity: No evidence of acute or severe co-occurring mental illness requiring immediate crisis intervention (e.g., psychosis, severe eating disorder, severe mood disorder requiring intensive psychiatric management).
• No Acute Risk: No current self-harm behaviours or acute suicidal ideation necessitating urgent risk management or crisis team involvement.
• No History of Inpatient Admission: No previous history of inpatient mental health hospital admissions.
• No Significant Conduct Issues: No co-existing diagnosis or strong features of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) or severe Conduct Disorder.
• No Social Services Involvement: No current, active involvement from statutory social services related to safeguarding or child protection concerns.

Please note: Young people aged 16-17 presenting with complexities beyond this scope (e.g., acute risk, severe comorbidities, complex psychosocial needs) are better suited to assessment within specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) or other appropriate NHS pathways.

We assess adults (18+) who:

• Present with persistent symptoms suggestive of ADHD that are impacting their daily life (work performance, academic achievement, relationships, self-esteem).
• Require diagnostic clarity, particularly where symptoms may overlap with other mental health or neurodevelopmental conditions.
• Are seeking a comprehensive, high-quality assessment to understand their challenges better.
• May benefit from exploring evidence-based treatment options for ADHD and any co-occurring conditions from experienced specialists.
  

How to Refer

Making a referral is straightforward. We typically require:

1. A Referral Letter: Please include patient demographic details (including contact email and phone number), the reason for referral, confirmation of age (and if 16-17, confirmation they meet the criteria above), and a brief outline of presenting problems.
2. A Relevant Medical Summary: Including details of past psychiatric history, current medications, and relevant physical health issues is essential for a safe and thorough assessment.

Referrals can be sent securely:

• Option A: Via secure email to enquiries@adhdspecialist.com
• Option B (Contact Form): Please use the contact form on our website: To access the Contact Page, go to https://adhdspecialist.com/contact-us. For initial referral enquiries, we will guide you through secure document submission.

Should you have any questions before referring, particularly regarding suitability for 16-17 year olds, please do not hesitate to contact us.