"ADHD - Very with happy with service"

I was initially pretty worried about the risk of going down the route of private psychiatric care (paying out of pocket, not via insurance).

I had presented to my NHS GP eight years ago, complaining of tiredness, ennui, and debilitating inattention. After various physical checks, I was diagnosed with depression and placed on SSRI's. I mentioned the possibility of ADHD at the time and was given very short shrift by the GP. After trying all manner of treatments (counselling, CBT, exercise, mindfulness, changing jobs, etc) I read a news article about adult ADHD and thought "that's me!". I convinced my GP to refer me for an assessment, only to find out that the waiting time in my area is 36months. At this point, I contacted PUK.

The process was generally very efficient. I was seen, via video call, within a week of getting in touch. That initial consultation was friendly, professional and well structured. I'd been asked to do some preparation in advance, fill out some questionnaires and also have my fiancee fill one out about me. We discussed those and I answered some more questions. That call resulted in me receiving a diagnosis and a provisional treatment plan to try. The cost up to that point was £350. A further £150 then got me a titration plan with a nurse and a private prescription for my first month's treatment (see below for detail). I reported back weekly information as to how I was getting on. After that month we decided to try a higher dose (£25 to issue). Over that month we stabilised my treatment. After a final consultation with the consultant (£150), I was discharged to my GP with a diagnosis and treatment plan.

While my GP was happy to go ahead, the handover was complicated by various procedural issues. My local NHS won't allow the treatment I was prescribed, without continuing supervision by a specialist. Initially, I was told that it was not allowed for this to be a private practice (36month wait under NHS). After researching this, and contacting my CCG directly, I found that this wasn't the case and my GP agreed to enter into a shared care agreement with PUK. This means an extra £150/year for a short check-up with the consultant, there was no extra cost in setting up the agreement. My GP is now issuing my prescription as NHS treatment.

Overall the process cost me:

£675 to PUK (+ an ongoing £150 a year)

£265 to my pharmacy for the medication for two months (the first month at the low dose was £85)

So £940 in total. It's a lot of money, but for me, the ADHD medication (Concerta XL) was like flicking a switch in my brain. I can concentrate now, I'm far more productive, and my depression is significantly better. My only regret is that I didn't do this eight years ago.

PS, I've run out of characters to explain this properly, but I could have saved 25% on my medication if I'd shopped around. Supermarket pharmacies were the cheapest.