Cork's public ADHD pathway has been under serious strain, with new GP referrals paused in autumn 2024.
In autumn 2024, the HSE's head of mental health services in Cork and Kerry told GPs the adult ADHD service could not accept direct GP referrals. At that time (reported by the Irish Examiner, October 2024) 413 adults were waiting in Cork City and north Cork and 217 in Kerry and West Cork, with the teams at 4.5 of 6 clinician posts. The HSE has since published newer figures. In a reply dated 27 April 2026, it said the Cork City and North Cork service was accepting referrals only for adults attending its community mental health teams, where ADHD is part of their mental health presentation. Referrals for a primary query of ADHD not meeting secondary care psychiatry thresholds were not being accepted. The Kerry/West Cork service, based in Killarney, was not accepting new assessment referrals from GPs. In a reply dated 10 June 2026, the HSE listed Cork City and North Cork as closed to GP referrals, with 99 adults waiting about 18–19 months, and Kerry/West Cork with 125 on its waiting list and about 24 months to be seen. Check with your GP or the local mental health team for the current position.
As reported in October 2024, the service was prioritising people with moderate-to-severe ADHD who also had a co-occurring mental health condition and were already under a mental health team's care, or young people moving from adolescent services. For milder cases, GPs were advised to use recommended psychosocial supports, including the ADHD Ireland app.
This is the context in which private assessment in Cork isn't just faster than usual — for a lot of people right now, it's the only route available at all. The two questions still matter, though: is the quoted price the full process (assessment, titration, ongoing prescribing), or just the first appointment, and what happens if your GP won't take over prescribing afterwards. A closed public referral pathway doesn't change either of those.
This page is informational, not medical advice. Proco does not currently offer ADHD assessment or prescribing services. If you have concerns about ADHD, speak to your GP. This page describes the public pathway as reported between 2024 and June 2026. Check current status before relying on it.