ADHD and autism assessment in Dundee

NHS routes, private providers, costs, and what to expect if you are seeking an ADHD or autism assessment in Dundee or Tayside

Reviewed by ADHD Scot,

NHS assessment in Dundee

NHS ADHD and autism assessment in Dundee and the surrounding area is provided by NHS Tayside, which covers Dundee City, Angus, and Perth and Kinross.

For adults, referrals go through your GP to adult psychiatry or a specialist neurodevelopmental service. For children and young people, referrals typically go through CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services).

NHS waiting times in Tayside are significant and have grown in recent years. You can see current reported figures on our NHS waiting times page and more detail on the NHS Tayside page.

Getting a referral

To start the NHS process, speak to your GP. It helps to:

  • Be specific about your symptoms, give examples from everyday life, not just "I can't concentrate"
  • Mention that symptoms have been present since childhood, even if they were not recognised at the time
  • Complete a validated screener beforehand, our ADHD self-screener or autism screener gives you something concrete to bring along
  • Ask specifically for a referral to the neurodevelopmental or adult psychiatry service for assessment

If your GP is reluctant, you are entitled to ask why and to seek a second opinion from another GP within the same practice.

Private assessment in Dundee

Private ADHD and autism assessments are available in Dundee from a small number of local providers, with a wider choice available from online providers who serve the whole of Scotland. Private assessment typically costs between £800 and £2,000 for adults.

Key things to consider when choosing a private provider:

HIS registration: Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) is Scotland's regulator for private healthcare. An HIS-registered provider has been inspected and meets required standards. Not all providers are legally required to register, services that do not employ, engage, or grant practising privileges to a medical doctor, nurse or other listed professional are exempt, as are England-based online providers regulated by the CQC. Our regulation page explains what this means. You can filter by HIS status on our compare tool.

Shared care support: If you receive a private ADHD diagnosis and are prescribed medication, you will initially pay for private prescriptions. Many people then ask their NHS GP to take over prescribing through a shared care agreement, which is cheaper long-term. Not all GPs agree to this, and not all private providers support the process. See our shared care guide for more detail.

Assessment method: A thorough assessment uses validated rating scales (such as Conners, DIVA 2.0, or ADOS-2 for autism) and gathers information from someone who knows you, not just self-report. Our compare tool shows which providers use validated tools.

Find private providers near Dundee →

After a diagnosis in Dundee

ADHD medication

If you receive an ADHD diagnosis and are prescribed medication privately, you can ask your NHS GP to take over prescribing. This requires a shared care agreement. NHS Tayside has a shared care protocol for ADHD medication, but individual GPs retain the right to decline. Our shared care guide explains the process and what to do if your GP refuses.

Autism support

Following an autism diagnosis, support in Dundee is available through Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership and national organisations including Scottish Autism. Our after diagnosis page has more guidance on next steps.

Support groups

Dundee has peer support communities for people with ADHD and autism. The Scottish ADHD Coalition lists ADHD support groups across Scotland, and national organisations such as ADHD UK and Scottish Autism can point you to local groups in Tayside. Our support page links to the main organisations.

Useful links

ADHD Scot is an independent, non-clinical information project. Nothing here is medical advice. If you think you may have ADHD or autism, the right first step is a conversation with your GP.

Reviewed by ADHD Scot,