Who can diagnose ADHD in the UK, and what actually matters

ADHD assessment in the UK is governed by NICE guideline NG87 and by the competence rules of the General Medical Council and the relevant nursing and psychology regulators. The guidance is clear about what a good assessment looks like and who is qualified to carry one out.

This article sets out the rules, explains what separates a thorough assessment from a superficial one, and describes how LoveMyLife runs its ADHD service.

Who is qualified to diagnose ADHD in the UK

NICE NG87 states that an ADHD diagnosis should be made by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician, or "other appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in the diagnosis of ADHD". The guidance was written this way on purpose. ADHD assessment is a defined clinical skill, and several professions can acquire it with the right training and supervision.

The professionals who carry out NHS-standard adult ADHD assessments in the UK are:

• Consultant psychiatrists.

• Specialist paediatricians, for under-18s.

• GPs with specific training and experience in adult ADHD.

• Specialist mental health nurses and nurse prescribers with ADHD training.

• Clinical psychologists with ADHD diagnostic training. They can diagnose but cannot prescribe.

The GMC and the relevant regulators require that whoever performs the assessment is working within their scope of competence. Competence, not job title, is the governing principle.

What a good ADHD assessment looks like

A good assessment has five ingredients. The specialty of the assessor matters much less than whether all five are present.

• A structured diagnostic interview using DIVA-5 or an equivalent instrument, covering every DSM-5 criterion in both adult and childhood contexts.

• A proper developmental history reaching back to before age twelve.

• Active screening for conditions that can mimic or co-exist with ADHD, including anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, thyroid dysfunction, substance use, and autism.

• Enough dedicated clinician time. Ninety minutes is the usual minimum, whether delivered in one block or split between self-complete instruments and an interview.

• A written diagnostic report with criteria-by-criteria reasoning, not a yes-or-no verdict.

The absence of any of those five is a more serious red flag than the letters after the assessor's name.

How the LoveMyLife ADHD service is structured

ADHD assessments at LoveMyLife are carried out by UK GPs who hold MRCGP credentials and have specific training in adult ADHD diagnosis and treatment. Every assessment follows the five-ingredient structure above, with a ninety-minute consultation, the DIVA-5 diagnostic interview, a childhood history, a structured screen for co-existing conditions, and a written report.

Clinical governance sits with a consultant psychiatrist who is on the Specialist Register for psychiatry. The psychiatrist reviews complex cases, attends case-review meetings, and signs off on the service's clinical protocols. Cases that clinically require a consultant psychiatrist are seen by one.

GP-led ADHD assessment is a good fit for most adult ADHD presentations. A GP manages the medical and mental-health conditions that frequently sit alongside ADHD, which matters because the differential diagnosis and the ongoing monitoring draw on that broader knowledge.

What to ask any clinic before you book

Five questions are enough to tell you whether an assessment is likely to be thorough:

• Which structured diagnostic interview is used, and how long does it take?

• How is a developmental history collected?

• What is actively screened for besides ADHD?

• What does the written report include?

• What qualifications and supervision does the assessing clinician have?

Clear answers to all five usually mean the work is done properly, whatever the assessor's primary specialty.

GMC registration and the Specialist Register

All UK doctors practising independently must be on the GMC register. The Specialist Register, indicated by MRCGP for general practice or by inclusion on a consultant specialty register for psychiatry or paediatrics, is an additional mark of demonstrated competence and continuing professional development.

LoveMyLife's ADHD assessing GPs are MRCGP-registered; the consultant psychiatrist providing governance is on the Specialist Register for psychiatry. This is worth knowing, and worth asking about, wherever you book.

The summary

A good ADHD assessment is defined by its structure, the time given to it, the range of conditions it screens for, and the quality of the written report. It is carried out by an appropriately qualified clinician who is working within a clinical team with proper governance. When those are in place, the assessment is thorough and the diagnosis is reliable.

Ready to start?

If this article has made you think it is time to find out, the next step is a short consultation with one of our ADHD-trained GPs.

Begin your consultation at this link. Online in 30 minutes, or in person at Westfield London.