If you are an adult in Wales wondering how long an NHS ADHD assessment will take, the honest answer is uncomfortable: nobody can tell you precisely, because Wales has no waiting-time target for adult ADHD assessment at all. This article sets out what the official data does show, what you can do while you wait, and what the private route looks like — so you can make an informed decision either way.
What the official figures show
There is no national target for adults. The Welsh Parliament’s own research service confirmed that Wales has no waiting-time policy or target for adult neurodevelopmental assessment. For comparison, adults seeking an autism assessment through the Integrated Autism Service faced an average wait of 95 weeks — almost two years — in the most recent published figures.
Children’s services are measured, and the target is being missed. The Welsh Government target is for 80% of children to be assessed within 26 weeks. In the most recent published data, two-thirds of children had already waited longer than that, and the number of children waiting rose by 87% in under two years. In North Wales, reporting in March 2026 found nearly 7,000 children on the waiting list, with just 12.3% seen within six months — and some neurodevelopmental services state on their own websites that a first appointment can take up to three years.
Adult services are under growing pressure. In 2026, funding was redirected from adult neurodivergence services towards children’s services, and adult waits — already reported by independent trackers at anywhere from 18 months to more than four years depending on where you live — are widely expected to lengthen. Because adult figures are not routinely published, we will be requesting current adult figures from every Welsh health board under the Freedom of Information Act, and will update this page with the results.
Why are the waits so long?
Not because anyone in the NHS is failing to work hard. Referrals for ADHD assessment have risen dramatically — in some areas monthly referrals doubled in four years — as awareness has improved and more adults, particularly women, recognise themselves in the diagnosis. Assessment is specialist, unhurried work, and the workforce simply has not grown at the same pace as the demand. A Welsh Government review found that for roughly every two people referred, only one assessment was taking place.
What you can do while you wait
Stay on the NHS list. Going private does not require you to leave it, and an NHS assessment remains free.
You do not need a diagnosis to ask for help. Workplace adjustments under the Equality Act, and study support at university, are based on need — not paperwork. Many employers and universities will act on a documented conversation about your difficulties.
Prepare. Validated screening tools such as the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) can help you organise your history and symptoms — useful preparation whichever route you take. Charities such as ADHD UK offer support groups and practical resources.
Be cautious of shortcuts. A meaningful ADHD assessment cannot be done in minutes by questionnaire alone. Whoever assesses you — NHS or private — should take a structured clinical history, use validated tools, and be a clinician qualified to diagnose.
The private route in Wales: weeks, not years
A private assessment is typically arranged within weeks. Two things are specific to Wales and worth knowing:
There is no Right to Choose in Wales. Unlike England, your GP cannot refer you to a private provider at NHS expense — going private in Wales means self-funding. Any provider suggesting otherwise is describing the English system.
Shared care is at your GP practice’s discretion. Some Welsh practices will take over prescribing under a shared care agreement once you are stable on medication; some will not. (The Welsh Government has said it intends to develop a national approach to accepting private diagnoses.) We tell you what happens in both scenarios before you spend a penny.
At zenvité, our doctor-led private ADHD assessment is available anywhere in Wales by secure video, or in person in St Asaph, North Wales. It costs £945 all-in — structured 1–2 hour clinical interview, multi-disciplinary team review, full written report suitable for NHS handover, and your first titration appointment included.
| Waiting is optional Doctor-led ADHD assessment, anywhere in Wales · £945 including MDT review, report & first titration appointment · No referral needed Book your assessment at zenvité → |
Sources: Senedd Research, “The growing demand for ADHD and autism assessments in Wales” (Nov 2024); Welsh Government FOI releases ATISN 16267, 20159 & 18840; National Autism Team annual report 2022–23; Institute of Welsh Affairs (Mar 2026); North Wales press reporting of health board waiting-list data (Mar 2026). Figures correct as at August 2026 — this page will be updated as new data is published.
