Proudly providing NHS services

ADHD Assessments

Supporting your child’s journey: NHS-funded autism assessments

Navigating the pathway to support can be complex. At Paloma Health, we provide the expert, NICE-compliant assessments your family needs to unlock the right support.

As an NHS-commissioned service, any NHS GP in England can refer your child to us. Speak with your NHS GP today about requesting a referral to Paloma Health.

How our service works

Paloma Health is only available in England, and only NHS GPs in England can refer into our service

1

NHS GP referral

To begin the process, your NHS GP will need to refer your child to us.

We’re happy to support your GP with any questions they may have.

2

The assessment

Our ADHD assessments follow NICE and NHS guidelines and carried out by a qualified assessor, then reviewed by our Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), where multiple expert clinicians collaborate on the final diagnostic decision.

The process includes:

  • Parent and school questionnaires
  • Parent and young person interview

We’ll keep you informed at each stage so you always know what to expect.

3

The outcome

At the end of the assessment, you will receive a clear, easy-to-understand outcome report, including a diagnosis if appropriate.

As an NHS provider, we will also securely share the report with you and your GP, ensuring continuity of care and next steps.

For children and young people from their 8th birthday onwards, we offer autism and ADHD assessments. A GP referral is required for each condition.

Compassionate experts

You may have been waiting a long time for an assessment, and it’s normal if you feel nervous or anxious about this important moment. Rest assured, you can expect the highest quality care. We work with a variety of experienced professionals who will guide you and your family toward the clarity you need.

Maria

Senior Assessor

I'm a Clinical Psychologist with over a decade of experience in ASD and ADHD assessments. I love what I do, and for me, assessments aren’t just about ticking boxes—they’re about really understanding each child and making sure families get the support they need.

Nichola

Senior Assessor

I’m a qualified and registered Social Worker with the SSSC. Over the years, I have worked with people of different ages, from infants to the elderly, in various contexts. I am passionate about helping neurodivergent people feel validated and listened to. I have a keen interest in masking behaviours and the more subtle autism presentations.

Shona

Senior Assessor

Exploring, identifying and supporting understanding of autism has been part of my Speech and Language Therapy role since I qualified in 2013. I believe strongly in individuals having the opportunity to understand themselves and their life experiences at the right time for them, and - regardless of the outcome - they should come out of assessment feeling heard, understood, validated and ultimately empowered.

What to expect during the assessment

If you suspect your child might have ADHD, we understand how emotional and overwhelming this time can be. Here's what you can expect during the assessment.

Once you start the assessment, you will have access to our an Paloma Portal with valuable ADHD-related information and support, curated by our clinicians.

ADHD assessment wait times

We book first appointments based on the date we receive your GP referral. Our current average wait time is approximately 12 weeks for all families awaiting their first appointment.

Please note that this is an average estimate. Your specific wait time may vary depending on:

● Social Context: How quickly your child’s school or nursery returns the required questionnaires.

● Assessor Availability: The matching of your child's needs with our specialist assessors.

Our top priority is always to provide a high-quality, thorough assessment for your child to help them receive the support they need.

Why parents choose Paloma Health

100% NHS-Funded Care

As an official NHS Right to Choose provider, our high-quality Autism and ADHD services come at no cost to your family.

Timely Access to Care

Our remote pathway provides first appointments approximately 12 weeks after NHS GP referral.

Expert & Safe Clinical Care

Assessments are conducted by highly-qualified, multidisciplinary specialists, and neurodevelopmental assessors.

Trusted, NHS-Approved Reports

Your child's outcome report will be
recognised and accepted by schools, local authorities and other NHS services.

Clear, Supportive Communication

We provide you with regular updates , ensuring you always know the next steps in your child's assessment journey.

Requesting a Right to Choose referral

1
Complete a screening questionnaire
2
Book an appointment with your NHS GP
3
Prepare for your NHS GP appointment
4
Direct your GP to the Paloma Health website

Prepare for your GP Appointment

Complete the SNAP-IV pre-screening questionnaire.

Collect school reports, direct teacher feedback regarding attention and behaviour, SENCO notes, or any other supporting medical documents.

Please also note down specific examples of where focus, restlessness, or impulsivity impact your child's daily life across different settings (e.g., at home, at school, and during extracurricular activities).

Know your right to choose

If your GP agrees that your child is showing signs of ADHD and is willing to make a referral to an NHS ADHD assessment service, you have the legal right to choose which NHS provider you are referred to. You must explicitly choose Paloma Health to be referred to our service.
Your GP is the only person who can make this referral—schools cannot refer to NHS Right to Choose services.
For children and young people from their 8th birthday onwards, we offer autism and ADHD assessments. A GP referral is required for each condition.

Expertise you can trust, care you can feel

Choosing the right provider brings peace of mind.

With a 4.9/5 rating on both Google and Trustpilot, Paloma Health is proud to be one of the highest-rated NHS Right to Choose autism services in the country, dedicated to providing a warm and thorough experience for every family.
GI
Gillian

The team were all really helpful and it was great to be seen so much sooner than our local service. Thank you for all your help!

Date of experience: 21 March 2025
CT
Chelsee

Mark and the team are fantastic! Having a child with Autism is a challenge in itself let alone the waiting time to get an assessment done. Our son is now being seen within 6 months instead of 2 years. All our questions have been answered in a timely manner and emails with educational material has helped us loads.

Date of experience: 05 March 2025
HO
Holly

Fantastic experience from start to finish, kind and knowledgeable staff, who always put my mind at rest, great with the children during their assessments too.

Date of experience: 29 July 2025
ZM
Zoe

Paloma Health provided a thorough autism assessment for my son. The process from referral through to diagnosis took just shy of six months. The assessment its self was very good and the assessor was extremely patient with my child. The report provided was in great detail and provided signposting and further support recommendations.

Very happy and extremely satisfied with Paloma Health.

Date of experience: 3 September 2025
CA
Casey

Couldn’t fault Paloma health - from start to finish was all professional and efficient from communication to in person meeting having travelled 2.5 hours from the Isle of Wight I would do it again! Quick response time to my emails and phone calls, very understanding and taken the time for me to get my information and concerns across massively appreciate everyone we had contact with.

Thank you

Date of experience: 28th August 2025
T
Tracey

Brilliant service, kept us informed of the process and were easy to contact. The assessment was very thorough. My son felt at ease. The information modules were very good.

Date of experience: 22nd August 2025
CL
Claire

I would highly recommend using Paloma Health, they are understanding, caring and the process is extremely quick to what you would normally wait. The staff are wonderful and guide you through each step and give so many helpful resources.

Date of experience: 26 August 2025
SA
Sarah

Overall experience has been great. Friendly staff and if you have any concerns they get back to promptly. I'm waiting for the ADHD assessment side to start so I can go through them for that with my daughter, because of the great experience with the ASD side.

Date of experience: 13 December 2024

Avoid the long wait for an NHS ADHD assessment

Start your child’s ADHD assessment journey with an NHS GP referral to Paloma Health.

Contact us