The NHS route in Greater Manchester

Since April 2026, Greater Manchester changed how it manages ADHD and autism assessment demand: providers were given workload allocations that prioritise “most urgent clinical need,” and non-urgent appointments are being scheduled more gradually — in practice, longer waits for most people. Greater Manchester's own Integrated Care Partnership states that without changes, waiting lists are expected to exceed 30,000 people across the region, and that funding for 2026/27 has not increased to match rising demand.

NHS Right to Choose — the scheme letting your GP refer you to an approved private provider at NHS expense — technically remains available in Greater Manchester, but with the same caveat: you may wait longer on that pathway too, since capacity is limited regardless of which route you take.

The private route

Private assessment in and around Manchester is generally faster than the NHS pathway, but the same two issues apply here as everywhere else: the price you see quoted is often just the initial assessment, not the full titration and ongoing prescribing process, and a private diagnosis doesn't guarantee your GP will take over prescribing afterwards. That handoff is entirely at your GP's discretion.

What to actually do

• If you're on, or considering, the NHS pathway in Greater Manchester, go in with realistic expectations set by the ICP's own published numbers rather than a general UK average — this area's situation is worse than most, not typical.
• Ask any private provider directly what happens if your GP declines shared care, before you commit to paying for an assessment.
• If speed and a clear all-in price (not just the first appointment) matter to you, that's exactly the gap we're exploring whether to fill.