ESSEX PRIVATE ADHD ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT SERVICE

Adult Private ADHD Assessment and Treatment Service in Essex

Adult Private ADHD Assessment and Treatment Service in Essex

If you suspect you have ADHD, or you’ve already been diagnosed but are struggling to access affordable ongoing treatment, our service can help.

At Essex Private Doctors, we provide comprehensive ADHD assessment and treatment for adults, led by Dr Henry Grundy-Wheeler, an experienced GP with specialist training in ADHD assessment and management.

Why Patients Choose Us

  • Specialist GP-led care from diagnosis through long-term treatment
  • One-stop, robust ADHD assessment process – including physical examination, ECG, and blood tests, all on the same day as your assessment
  • A holistic approach addressing all factors that affect your ADHD, not just medication
  • An affordable alternative to private psychiatry
  • Appointments that give you proper time to talk — never rushed
  • In-person and virtual consultations available
  • Ongoing treatment for patients who were diagnosed elsewhere or are unable to access NHS or shared care

What is ADHD?

For many people, discovering they might have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) – also known as ADD, brings relief rather than worry. It’s often the moment life starts to make sense.

ADHD is a recognised condition that affects how the brain regulates focus, energy, and impulse control. People with ADHD are often bright and creative but may find themselves easily distracted or overwhelmed, and face challenges with challenges with focus, restlessness, and impulsivity. You might:

  • Struggle to stay organised or manage time
  • Forget or misplace things often
  • Start projects but rarely finish them
  • Feel mentally restless or easily overwhelmed
  • Speak impulsively or interrupt others

These symptoms often begin in childhood, even if they weren’t recognised at the time. In women, ADHD is frequently missed because it presents more as inattentiveness or emotional overload than physical restlessness. With the right treatment and support, ADHD doesn’t have to hold you back.

Accessing ADHD Care

If you’re seeking a diagnosis, you may have already done your research, completed online screeners, and recognised the symptoms in yourself, but you might worry about paying for a private assessment and being told you don’t have ADHD after all. Perhaps you’ve been waiting years for an NHS referral and need answers now.

If you’re already diagnosed, you may be finding that your NHS GP can’t continue prescribing, or your local Integrated Care Board won’t support shared care. Psychiatric follow-ups are expensive, and ongoing costs quickly add up. Many people spend thousands of pounds every year just to access the medication that allows them to function day to day.

We believe ADHD care shouldn’t be this difficult.

We are not a service that rushes you through a checklist and sends you on your way.
We take the tine to explore everything that could be affecting your wellbeing — not just ADHD symptoms but also your sleep, diet, and overall health.
If you’re struggling with jaw clenching caused by medication, for example, we can even help with that here.

Many psychiatric services only handle diagnosis and medication.
Our GP-led service allows us to look at your whole picture of health.

If your blood tests show low levels of vitamin D, folate, or B12 — all of which can affect mental health — we can manage that in-house.
We can also refer you to our dietitian for nutritional advice or help you work on better sleep and focus routines that fit your lifestyle.

Dr Grundy-Wheeler’s background gives him a unique position between psychiatry and general medicine.

Psychiatrists are excellent diagnosticians but often costly and narrowly focused. Psychologists can’t prescribe medication. As a GP with higher specialist ADHD training, Dr Grundy-Wheeler can guide you from the first assessment through diagnosis and ongoing medication management.

You have one point of contact who can address all aspects of your ADHD care.

ADHD Self-Report Scale

Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist

Take this 5 minute screening test to learn if having an ADHD Assessment is right for you.

Instructions: Please answer the questions below. As you answer each question, choose the answer that best describes how you have felt and conducted yourself over the past 6 months.
Please answer all questions before submitting.
Question 1
How often do you have trouble wrapping up the final details of a project, once the challenging parts have been done?
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Question 2
How often do you have difficulty getting things in order when you have to do a task that requires organisation?
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Question 3
How often do you have problems remembering appointments or obligations?
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Question 4
When you have a task that requires a lot of thought, how often do you avoid or delay getting started?
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Question 5
How often do you fidget or squirm with your hands or feet when you have to sit down for a long time?
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Question 6
How often do you feel overly active and compelled to do things, like you were driven by a motor?
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Your Results

Your ADHD Assessment Journey

Before your first appointment and upon booking your assessment, you’ll complete a set of validated screening tools, including the ASRS (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale), PHQ-9 (for depression), and GAD-7 (for anxiety). These help us understand your symptoms and determine whether an assessment is suitable for you.

You’ll pay a deposit at the time of booking to secure your appointment, and then the balance on the day of the assessment.

If it becomes clear that ADHD isn’t the primary issue, we’ll let you know and guide you towards the right service instead.

Your assessment is divided into two parts – an ADHD Medical Consultation, and a DIVA-5 Diagnostic Assessment. Both take one hour (each), and take place in our clinic.

Some patients choose to have the the two run together, in a single, two-hour session, but we appreciate that for some people, two hours may feel a little overwhelming, so you also have the option of having the assessment spread over two or more days.

During your ADHD Medical Consultation, Dr Grundy-Wheeler will take a detailed medical and psychological history, including:

  • Your background and current symptoms
  • Family traits and medical conditions
  • Any current medications, especially stimulants
  • A review of mental health history
  • Physical examination including blood pressure and heart assessment
  • ECG and blood tests are performed on the day (which means you don’t have to source these elsewhere)
  • A discussion of your goals and treatment expectations

This appointment goes far beyond simple form-filling. Many health conditions can mimic or worsen ADHD symptoms, so a full medical review ensures nothing is missed.

If any concerns fall outside the ADHD pathway, we’ll refer you to the most appropriate specialist.

The DIVA-5 is the gold-standard diagnostic tool for adult ADHD, based on international DSM-5 criteria. This structured assessment explores how symptoms have affected you in both childhood and adulthood.

We separate this session from your initial consultation to avoid fatigue and to give the diagnosis discussion the time it deserves. At the end, Dr Grundy-Wheeler will explain your results, answer any questions, and outline the next steps.

Your third appointment focuses on treatment. We’ll discuss both medical and non-medical approaches:

  • Stimulant and non-stimulant medications
  • Dietary and lifestyle recommendations
  • Sleep hygiene and focus techniques

If stimulant medication is appropriate, Dr Grundy-Wheeler will explain how these medicines work, how to start safely, and what to expect during the titration period.
If a heart condition runs in your family, an ECG may be required before starting medication.

Appointments can be held in person or virtually once treatment is underway.

Once treatment begins, you’ll have regular follow-ups to fine-tune your dose and monitor your response:

  • Week 1–2: Review of progress and side effects
  • Week 6: Assessment of dose stability and any adjustments

After this, we move to lighter-touch follow-ups focused on maintaining safety and effectiveness

When your medication is stable, we review at two months, three months, and then every six months. These reviews can be virtual if preferred.
Some people need extra time or closer support, while others require only brief check-ins. Either way, you’ll always have enough time to discuss your progress.

When you book your ADHD Assessment, you’ll be sent pre-screening questionnaires which need to be completed prior to your assessment appointment.

A deposit of £930 is due at the time of booking to secure your ADHD Assessment, and the balance of £600 on the day of your ADHD Assessment.

The total fee (£1530) covers the entire assessment process, blood tests, ECG, and report.

Click here for a complete list of our fees.

Already have an ADHD Diagnosis?

If you already have an ADHD diagnosis and the proper documentation, you don’t need to start again. We can take over your ongoing care, and privately prescribe medications for you.

Many people come to us because they cannot access shared-care prescribing on the NHS, or private psychiatric follow-ups have become unaffordable. Our service offers safe, ongoing medication management at a fraction of the usual cost.

At your first appointment, we will:

  • Review your diagnosis and medical history
  • Discuss your current medication and response
  • Explain how your follow-up care will work
  • Continue or adjust your prescription as needed

You’ll then follow the same titration and review schedule as new patients.

If you already have a confirmed diagnosis of ADHD and are looking for ongoing management or medication prescribing, call us to book an appointment with Dr Henry Grundy-Wheeler.

Our ADHD Approach

Evidence-Based and Practical

We follow NICE guidelines and use proven, evidence-based treatments, but we’re not bound by the same constraints that sometimes limit NHS care.
If your diagnosis is borderline, Dr Grundy-Wheeler may recommend a carefully monitored medication trial. A strong response can help clarify your diagnosis.

ADHD exists on a spectrum, and not everyone fits neatly into a checklist. We focus on what helps you function and feel better while maintaining high clinical standards.

Realistic and Supportive

We understand that living with ADHD can make organisation difficult. You might forget to order your prescription or miss an appointment. That’s part of the condition we’re treating, and we’ll support you through it.
We believe good ADHD care should feel human, understanding, and flexible.

Who This Service Is For

  • You suspect you have ADHD and want a full assessment
  • You already have a diagnosis but need affordable ongoing treatment
  • Your NHS GP can’t prescribe your medication
  • You want holistic care that looks at your physical and mental health together
  • You value longer, unhurried appointments
  • You want a single clinician overseeing your entire ADHD journey
  • You’re experiencing jaw clenching from medication and need help managing it

  • You require assessment and care for multiple complex psychiatric conditions
  • You need intensive therapy (we can refer you onwards)
  • You want a diagnosis regardless of evidence
  • You’re unwilling to complete pre-screening forms
  • You’re under 18 years of age (we can only assess people aged 18 and over)

Many women who have ‘coped’ or ‘masked’ their ADHD symptoms, find that the perimenopause or menopause becomes a time when they especially struggle. Some have children who have recently received a diagnosis, and then notice similarities in themselves, and seek a diagnosis.
Some also have found their symptoms have been dismissed as simply being part of ‘going through the change’, but know that there is something more fundamental going on. We can help.

Many people find that they start to struggle with their (undiagnosed) ADHD symptoms when they start University, because of all of a sudden the school time-table, which had given them structure, is now no-longer there. If you’re struggling with late assignments, managing your time, or are floundering at Uni, we’re here to help.

Starting work, or starting a new role in a new workplace, can feel daunting. Many people with ADHD struggle when they enter the workplace, a new environment, or change of jobs. If you’re worried that you’re not keeping up with the pace and demands of your work, it may be time for an ADHD assessment.

About Dr Henry Grundy-Wheeler

Dr Grundy-Wheeler has a long-standing interest in ADHD, including personal family experience with the condition.
He has worked closely with a psychiatrist specialising in ADHD for several years and has completed higher specialty training in adult ADHD assessment and management.
His combination of professional expertise and personal understanding allows him to deliver truly compassionate and effective care.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’ve completed online quizzes, relate strongly to ADHD symptoms, and find they’re affecting your work or relationships, assessment is worthwhile. You’ll complete pre-assessment questionnaires which allow us to confirm whether full assessment is appropriate before you commit further.

In the UK, ADHD can be diagnosed by a GP, psychiatrist, or psychologist who has received specialist training in ADHD assessment.

We can usually offer initial appointments within a week, compared to the 12–24-month waits typical on the NHS.

No. You can book directly with us. If you’d like us to share your results with your NHS GP, we can do that with your permission.

The main consultation includes a physical health check, so it’s important to meet in person. However, most follow-ups can be done virtually.

From the first appointment to treatment initiation usually takes just a few days depending on your availability for your assessment appointments.

Yes. If you’re already on medication but struggling to access prescribing, we can review your treatment and continue your care safely.

A deposit is taken to secure your booking, and then the balance paid on the day of your assessment.

For a full list of our fees, see here.

Most health issues don’t prevent ADHD treatment. Because we’re a GP-led service, we can often manage related conditions in-house rather than referring you elsewhere.

No. One of the reasons we set up this service is because shared care is now many local Integrated Care Boards won’t support shared care.
Your NHS GP remains your GP. Our private service runs alongside NHS care, and we can share information if you wish.

Book Your ADHD Assessment Today

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re struggling with undiagnosed ADHD, or you’ve been diagnosed but can’t access affordable treatment, we’re here to help.

Book your ADHD Assessment today. You’ll complete pre-screening questionnaires beforehand, so we can confirm that this pathway is right for you before committing to the full process.

If you already have a diagnosis, call us to book an ADHD treatment consultation appointment with Dr Henry Grundy-Wheeler, to discuss transferring your ongoing medication management to our service.