Why do private assessment reports need to be reviewed by the Northern Trust?

Health and social care trusts have to receive and accept private assessment reports in order to record that an ADHD diagnosis has been made for a child/young person.

All private providers should follow NICE Guidelines for ADHD assessment.

Trusts are not permitted to recommend any particular private providers. However, the majority of the private reports we receive from a range of local providers are currently accepted.  All private providers are clinically responsible for their own work and diagnostic outcomes.

What are the required criteria for a private assessment to be accepted?

In line with the NICE Guidelines:

• ADHD should only be diagnosed by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in diagnosing ADHD.
• A full clinical and psychosocial assessment of the person; this should include discussion about behaviour and symptoms in the different domains and settings of the person’s everyday life.  This is usually at home and at school.
• A full developmental and psychiatric history.
• Observer reports and assessment of the person’s mental state.
• Use QbTest to help diagnose ADHD in people aged 6 to 17 years as recommended in NICE’s diagnostics guidance on digital technologies for assessing ADHD. QbTest(Quantitative Behavioural) is a computer-based activity used as an objective measure of the ADHD symptoms.

For an ADHD diagnosis, symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity or inattention should:

• Meet the diagnostic criteria for hyperkinetic disorder in DSM-5 or ICD-11 (but exclusion based on a pervasive developmental disorder or an uncertain time of onset is not recommended).
• Cause at least moderate psychological, social, or educational or occupational impairment based on interview or direct observation in multiple settings.
• Be happening often, occurring in 2 or more important settings including social, familial, educational or occupational settings.
• Consideration of a differential diagnosis: this means that the private provider should state that they have considered other potential explanations for the child/young person’s presentation, in addition to or instead of ADHD.

Where should reports be sent to have them reviewed?

Private assessment reports should be sent to the Children’s Referral Service for processing, by email, or by post to:

Children’s Referral Service, Floor 2, 12 Dublin Road, Antrim BT41 4EA

Private assessment reports are sent to the ADHD Paediatricians for review. If accepted, the child/young person will be placed on a waiting list held at Antrim Area Hospital (AAH) for an appointment at the ADHD clinic with a Paediatrician.

What if my child is already on a Trust assessment list?

Children can remain on a Trust assessment waiting list even if they are seeking a private assessment. They are only taken off the assessment list once the Trust receives and reviews the private report and accepts the child/young person onto the waiting list for an appointment at the ADHD clinic with the Paediatrician.  The private diagnosis will only be agreed once the child has attended this appointment and the Paediatrician completes their assessment.  This is then recorded on the child/young person’s medical records.

If the private assessment report is not accepted at the point of referral, it will be due to not meeting the outlined criteria above.  Your child/young person may be added to the Paediatric ADHD Assessment Service waiting list.  A letter will be sent to you detailing this.