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Consultant Psychiatry - ADHD Assessments

For Adults and Children aged 5 and over

Pricing

Dr Doerry offers assessment and treatment of ADHD for children and adults.  

ADHD Assessment  £950
ADHD Starting Medication Consultation £230
ADHD Additional Letter Fee £25
ADHD Shared Care Form £50
QB Check £225

Dr Ursula Doerry - Consultant Psychiatrist – ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) assessments for Children and Adults

Dr Ursula Doerry - Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Dr Doerry is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. She worked as a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in Worcestershire NHS for nearly 20 years and is currently the Consultant in the adult ADHD service in Worcestershire (NHS). She has extensive experience in the assessment and treatment of all common psychiatric disorders and has a particular interest in neuro-developmental disorders (like autism and ADHD).  Dr Doerry has completed all UKAAN (UK Adult ADHD Network) training models and is part of her local UKAAN peer group.

Dr Doerry’s assessments are comprehensive and holistic. She aims to gain an understanding of the presenting difficulties and contributing factors. This can be valuable to the patient and their family even if a diagnosis of ADHD is not appropriate.

MUMS – has been an established, reliable, and trusted private healthcare provider in the Midlands for over two decades. Our Consultants offer discretion and compassion and a truly holistic and comprehensive Adult ADHD assessment, diagnosis and treatment service including follow up and shared care where needed.

ADHD is a common disorder, that can cause significant impairment of functioning. Having the diagnosis can lead to better understanding of the adult and opens the possibility of treatment.

ADHD 

ADHD is a condition that affects the ability to concentrate and focus, as well as leading to restlessness and impulsivity. It is usually a lifelong condition, and symptoms should be noticeable before the age of 12. However, it is frequently missed especially if hyperactivity symptoms are not prominent. In this case it is called Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). ADD is more common in girls and women.

ADHD is associated with other neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and specific learning problems like dyslexia.

Self-esteem is often low and mental health problems like anxiety and depression can develop consequently. Follow-up studies of ADHD in children find that the disorder frequently persists into adult life. ADHD in adults is often seen at a high rate in people with other significant clinical problems including substance abuse, unstable mood states, anxiety, depression, forensic cases and personality disorder. ADHD is a common problem in higher education.

MUMS comprehensive guide below outlines everything you need to know about getting assessed for ADHD, including what to expect at each step of the assessment process.

To make a diagnosis, symptoms need to be present before the age of 12 and cause significant impairment of functioning. We will ask you to complete some questionnaires and return them at least 1 week before the appointment. This information will be reviewed prior to the appointment and is an essential part of the diagnostic process. Please also send in other relevant information like educational assessments, old school reports or letters from mental health services.

The initial assessment appointment usually lasts about 90 minutes. Adults can be seen on their own, however it is preferable if they attend the appointment with someone who knows them well.

At the end of this initial appointment, it is usually possible to conclude whether a diagnosis of ADHD is appropriate. In addition, a formulation of wider factors that influence the presentation will be discussed. Following the appointment, a detailed assessment letter will be sent to you that you can share with your GP. If a diagnosis is made, information about medication options will be sent to you. This can be then discussed in detail in a follow up appointment, where medication can be initiated if appropriate.

Process and fees For ADHD assessment and treatment:

ADHD Clinical Assessments £950

A £450 deposit is required to secure the assessment.

After the deposit of £450 is paid you will be sent the questionnaires. We require the questionnaires to be returned at least one week before the ADHD Initial Assessment for Dr Doerry.

If you cancel after the forms have been reviewed by the consultant and give MUMS at least 24 hours’ notice of the time of your appointment, you will receive £250 of your deposit back.

If you cancel before the forms have been reviewed and with at least a week’s notice a full refund is given. 

The balance is payable on arrival for the Assessment.

ADHD Starting Medication Consultations £230.00

If a diagnosis of ADHD is made you may want to consider medication treatment. This can also be arranged at MUMS – please click this link for further details.

QB check

This uses computerised tasks to assess concentration, movement and impulsivity using age- and gender-matched comparisons. A QB check test is increasingly used by NHS Trusts to aid with the assessment of ADHD. It is not required to make a diagnosis, but we offer it at MUMS to increase the robustness of the diagnosis. We may also recommend it as an additional tool if there is clinical uncertainty. You can book it prior to the ADHD assessment if you wish. 

We have ample parking, great reviews – call us today on 0121 704 2669 or send and enquiry. You can email us too – administrator@mums.me.uk. There is no need for a referral from your NHS GP.

For more information on ADHD please visit:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/

Does MUMS offer urgent mental health services?

Please note that MUMS do not provide emergency or crisis care.

If you need urgent help, please call 111.

If you feel there is an immediate risk to your child or others, please call 999.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You will be seen by highly qualified and experienced professionals (Consultant Child Psychiatrist or Consultant Developmental Paediatrician) who have worked in the NHS for many years. The assessment process is robust and follows NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidelines.

    At MUMS assessments take place face to face. The doctor will be able to observe your child in clinic, which leads to a higher quality assessment. Prices at MUMS are competitive and the ongoing cost for treatment is low. Please see How much is the cost of private ADHD assessment and treatment for factors to consider.

  • Prior to the appointment you will be sent free text and ADHD screening questionnaires that should be filled in by parents and school. Information from an educational setting is important as symptoms of ADHD need to be present at home and at school to make a diagnosis. These questionnaires will be reviewed prior to the appointment and the doctor may contact you before the appointment if there are any questions.
    The appointment needs to be attended by the child and at least one parent. For younger children or those who struggle to sit still for long it is best if you bring a second adult, who can look after the child while the parent talks to the doctor undisturbed. Sometimes parents are also seen without the child for part of the assessment to discuss concerns that they do not wish to talk about in the presence of their child.
    During the appointment you will be asked about ADHD symptoms. You will also talk about your child’s development, overall functioning, and the family. The aim is to do a holistic assessment of your child’s difficulties, decide whether a diagnosis is appropriate and identify contributing factors. The doctor also screens for other developmental disorders (like autism) and may make recommendations for further assessments if required.

  • The symptoms of ADHD in children and teenagers are usually noticeable before the age of 6 and need to be present before the age of 12. They are pervasive and need to be apparent in more than one setting, such as at home and at school. Children may have symptoms of both inattentiveness and hyperactivity and impulsiveness, or just be inattentive. Pure hyperactivity is very rare.

    Inattentiveness

    • having a short attention span, for example when reading or watching a film
    • making careless mistakes – for example, in schoolwork
    • daydreaming and not listening in conversations
    • struggling to follow instructions, especially if they have several steps
    • having difficulty organising tasks, for example packing schoolbags
    • avoiding tasks that need concentration like homework
    • losing things
    • getting distracted easily
    • appearing forgetful

    Hyperactivity and impulsiveness

    • being unable to sit still, getting up when supposed to sit down
    • constantly fidgeting
    • excessive physical movement
    • excessive talking
    • being generally quite loud
    • being unable to wait their turn
    • acting without thinking
    • interrupting conversations
    • little or no sense of danger
  • Many children and teenagers with ADHD also have signs of other problems or conditions, for example:

    • anxiety, children may worry as they know they struggle with daily demands.
    • oppositional behaviour at home and at school
    • anti-social behaviour and drug use, mainly in older teenagers
    • low mood, depression, and problems with emotional regulation
    • sleep problems
    • autistic spectrum disorders
    • dyspraxia, co-ordination difficulties
    • tic disorders • learning difficulties, for example dyslexia
  • The cost of an ADHD service varies significantly between providers. It is important that you check not only the price of the initial assessment but also how much is charged for medication initiation, titration, and monitoring. In addition the cost of repeat prescriptions varies widely (you will need one every month). Some providers will also offer shared care with your GP (this means the GP takes over prescribing while the specialist does the monitoring of the medication). However not all GPs are happy to enter into shared care with private providers.

    At MUMS treatment costs are comparatively low and we offer shared care if there is agreement from your GP.

  • ADHD symptoms frequently continue from childhood through teenage years and into adulthood, with around 50-65% of children with ADHD experiencing symptoms as adults. This can affect academic achievement, work performance, relationships, substance abuse risk, and mental health.

    Adults with untreated ADHD are more likely to experience problems such as unemployment, lower socioeconomic status, legal issues, traffic accidents, difficulties maintaining relationships, and mood or anxiety disorders.

    Seeking diagnosis and following treatment plans can help mitigate these potential long-term consequences.

  • Effective treatments for ADHD include psycho-education and medication. Combining multiple approaches is often most beneficial. 

    Medications such as stimulants can help relieve core ADHD symptoms like inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity and also improve associated difficulties like oppositional behaviours, emotional regulation problems and anxiety. Medication effects and dosage need to be monitored and adjusted over time.

  • Sleep disorders occur more frequently with ADHD. Children and adults often struggle to fall asleep as their mind is always busy. They may also wake frequently at night. Some children with ADHD also get up very early and do not seem to need much sleep. Others are tired in the day. Teenagers frequently struggle to get up in the morning.

  • Some GPs will agree to take over prescribing of the medication once your child is on a stable dose. This saves you the cost for prescriptions and the cost for the medication. You will still need to attend appointments at MUMS at least every 6 months. How to arrange shared care:

    1. MUMS will send you the shared care protocol.
    2. You need to take the protocol and all the letters that you have received from MUMS to your GP and discuss whether they are willing to prescribe medication under this protocol.
    3. Once your GP has agreed you need to send us your GPs email address and your NHS number. We need to be able to communicate directly with your GP.
    4. MUMS will send your GP an up-to-date clinic letter, the shared care protocol, and the signed shared care form. This process has a fee (please see information on pricing)
    5. Your GP returns the signed form to MUMS and starts prescribing.