ADHD assessment in Northamptonshire: every stage, prescribing and support while waiting

Step by step

1. Stage 1: start support before diagnosis

   What is happening: Attention, regulation, executive-function, learning, sleep or emotional needs are being identified and practical support should begin. How you know: The person, family, school, GP or other professional has recorded functional needs across settings. Current published wait: No diagnostic wait applies to reasonable adjustments, SEND Support or needs-led help. What to do now: Use clear routines, adjustments, strengths-based support, an assess-plan-do-review cycle and help for sleep or mental health where appropriate. Escalate when: Support is refused only because there is no diagnosis, functioning deteriorates sharply or urgent health or safety concerns emerge. Source checked 5 August 2026. Review due 5 November 2026.

2. Stage 2: child evidence and professional referral

   What is happening: For under-18s, an appropriate professional gathers parent and school information and submits the referral to NHFT's Children's Referral Management Centre. How you know: You know the referral question, consent, attachments, submission date and who will chase acknowledgement. Current published wait: NHFT does not publish a normal preparation time; incomplete parent or school information can delay routing. What to do now: Ask for a copy or summary and keep education and wellbeing support active. Escalate when: The referral is delayed without explanation, essential information is not requested or no professional accepts ownership. Source checked 5 August 2026. Review due 5 November 2026.

3. Stage 3: Referral Management Centre receipt and routing

   What is happening: RMC checks the child referral and routes complete information to the clinical service. How you know: The referrer can confirm submission and RMC outcome; RMC can answer parent process and status questions but not give clinical advice. Current published wait: NHFT says complete referrals normally reach the clinical service in about 2 to 4 weeks. What to do now: Keep the receipt and contact RMC on 0800 170 7055 option 3 or cyprmc@nhft.nhs.uk if status is unclear. Escalate when: The referral is missing, returned or awaiting information and the responsible professional has not acted. Source checked 5 August 2026. Review due 5 November 2026.

4. Stage 4: child referral accepted and waits for first appointment

   What is happening: The clinical service has accepted the child referral and placed it on the local assessment pathway. How you know: The referrer or service confirms acceptance, pathway and next owner. North Northamptonshire covers all school ages; in West Northamptonshire NHFT covers secondary school age and Northampton General Hospital covers primary school age. Current published wait: For NHFT's service, covering all school ages in North Northamptonshire and secondary school age in West Northamptonshire, NHFT published a 114-week average first-appointment wait in June 2026. Northampton General Hospital says its West Northamptonshire primary-age community-paediatrics waits are extensive but does not publish a current numeric average on its page. These are not targets, deadlines or guarantees. What to do now: Keep SEND Support and adjustments active, record changes, ask who to contact if needs worsen and check whether a cancellation opportunity is appropriate. Escalate when: There is no acceptance confirmation, needs or risk change, or the service cannot identify current ownership. Source checked 5 August 2026. Review due 5 November 2026.

5. Stage 5: child assessment and outcome

   What is happening: The team gathers information across settings, completes the assessment and records diagnosis or another outcome and recommendations. How you know: You receive appointment information, evidence requests and an explanation of communication or sensory adjustments. Current published wait: NHFT does not publish one normal duration from first appointment to final outcome because assessment needs differ. What to do now: Prepare examples across home, education and daily life, current support, strengths, questions and required adjustments. Escalate when: Essential adjustments are missing, the outcome or next step is unclear, or agreed follow-up is not recorded. Source checked 5 August 2026. Review due 5 November 2026.

6. Stage 6: adult GP referral to the local ADHD team

   What is happening: For adults, a GP or appropriate professional refers to the NHFT Adult ADHD, Autism and Tourette's Team. How you know: The GP can confirm referral date, evidence, destination and whether the team accepted it. Current published wait: NHFT does not publish a current average adult ADHD diagnostic wait. What to do now: Ask for a referral receipt and use the GP or relevant service for current sleep, mental health or functioning needs. Escalate when: The referral is rejected without clear next steps, sent to the wrong pathway or health or safety deteriorates. The adult team is not an urgent or crisis service. Source checked 5 August 2026. Review due 5 November 2026.

7. Stage 7: adult waits on the local diagnostic pathway

   What is happening: An accepted adult referral waits in chronological order for diagnostic review. How you know: The GP or service confirms acceptance; the service says it will contact the person when an appointment is ready. Current published wait: Not published. NHFT asks people not to contact the clinical team for estimates and says referrals cannot be moved up the list. What to do now: Keep contact details current, continue needs-led support and use urgent services for crisis or serious deterioration. Escalate when: Acceptance is not confirmed, circumstances change materially or communication adjustments are not recorded. Source checked 5 August 2026. Review due 5 November 2026.

8. Stage 8: consider NHS patient choice before changing pathway

   What is happening: A person registered with a GP in England asks about a qualifying NHS-funded alternative provider for a first outpatient assessment. How you know: The GP confirms patient-choice rules apply and the provider has a current NHS contract covering age, ADHD assessment and any relevant treatment. Current published wait: Provider-specific waits are not published in this guide and change frequently; check the provider's current NHS pathway page. What to do now: Confirm assessment, treatment, prescribing, exclusions and whether the person must leave the local list. Northamptonshire says local and patient-choice pathways cannot run at the same time. Escalate when: The GP refuses without a reason, NHS contract status is unclear or the provider cannot explain follow-up and prescribing responsibility. Source checked 5 August 2026. Review due 5 November 2026.

9. Stage 9: check prescribing before choosing a provider

   What is happening: The person is deciding how ADHD medication assessment, initiation, monitoring and repeat prescribing would work after diagnosis. How you know: The provider and GP have each explained their responsibility in writing. Current published wait: Northamptonshire does not publish one universal medication wait. NHFT says a medication pathway after certain diagnostic reviews can currently take 12 to 18 months, but this does not describe every case. What to do now: Ask whether the provider's NHS contract includes prescribing and monitoring. Northamptonshire says GPs are not expected to enter shared care with patient-choice ADHD providers, so do not assume the GP will take over. Escalate when: Medication responsibility, physical monitoring, costs or continuity are unclear before referral or treatment starts. Source checked 5 August 2026. Review due 5 November 2026.

10. Stage 10: use the right concern route

    What is happening: A referral, wait, assessment, prescribing or communication concern remains unresolved after contact with the responsible professional or service. How you know: You have a dated chronology, the exact unanswered question, impact and remedy requested. Current published wait: PALS and complaint response times vary; neither route guarantees a faster clinical appointment or medication decision. What to do now: Use NHFT PALS for unresolved NHFT concerns or the ICB patient-experience team for relevant commissioned-service concerns. Keep clinical and emergency routes separate. Escalate when: Risk is urgent, essential care is missing, a formal complaint remains unresolved, or specialist advocacy or legal advice may be needed. Source checked 5 August 2026. Review due 5 November 2026.