Private ADHD and autism assessment in Newcastle and the North East

Psychiatric ADHD and autism assessment for adults in Newcastle and the North East

Caledonian Psychiatry offers private adult ADHD and autism assessment to people in Newcastle upon Tyne and across the North East of England — Gateshead, Sunderland, Durham, Northumberland and the wider Tyne & Wear area. Assessments are conducted by Dr David Crocker, a GMC-registered psychiatrist (MRCPsych) with extensive experience in adult neurodevelopmental conditions. The practice is based in Scotland and regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (reg. 03427); because GMC registration applies across the whole of the UK and every appointment takes place by secure video, patients in England can be assessed in exactly the same way as patients anywhere else in the country.

Every assessment takes place fully by secure video consultation, so there is no journey into the city centre, no Metro or parking to think about, and no waiting room. Patients in the North East attend from home, from work, or from wherever suits them best. The clinical standard does not depend on the room: the same doctor, the same NICE-aligned process, and the same detailed written report. Whether you are a student at Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland or Durham universities, a professional on the Quayside, or based further out across Northumberland or County Durham, the pathway is the same.

The NHS picture in the North East

Demand for adult ADHD and autism assessment has risen sharply across England in recent years, and waits for an NHS assessment are commonly long and vary considerably from area to area. Many adults in Newcastle and the North East first look into their options after being told that the local NHS pathway involves a substantial wait, or after spending time on a list without a clear timescale. We deliberately do not quote a waiting-time figure for the North East here — NHS waits in England differ by area and change over time, so any single number would risk misleading you. Your GP or local service can tell you the current position where you live.

Unlike in Scotland, however, patients in England do have an NHS-funded alternative worth knowing about before deciding to pay privately: the NHS Right to Choose.

The NHS Right to Choose — an option English patients should know about

Right to Choose can be a genuinely good route: it can secure an NHS-funded assessment, often sooner than the local NHS pathway. It does require a GP referral, is limited to providers that hold an NHS contract, and waiting times at those providers vary and can themselves be significant. A self-funded private assessment offers a different balance: speed (typically available within a few weeks of enquiry, with no GP referral needed), your choice of clinician, and continuity of care — the same psychiatrist who assesses you can provide follow-up, medication titration and ongoing prescribing afterwards. We explain the scheme in more detail — including why it applies in England but not Scotland — on our Right to Choose page.

What the assessment involves

The assessment follows NICE guidance (NG87) and comprises two 60-minute video appointments. Dr Crocker takes a comprehensive developmental and clinical history, uses validated diagnostic rating scales, and where possible gathers collateral information to build a thorough evidence base for his conclusions. A full written report is provided after the assessment, setting out the diagnostic reasoning and personalised recommendations. For full details of what each appointment covers, see our full ADHD assessment page — and our approach if you would like a feel for how Dr Crocker works before enquiring.

Autism assessment in Newcastle and the North East

Caledonian Psychiatry also offers private adult autism assessment for people in Newcastle and across the North East. A great many adults who first enquire about ADHD also recognise autistic traits in themselves — the two frequently co-occur — and Dr Crocker assesses both, so there is no need to decide in advance which one best fits. This is especially common among those who have managed well academically or at work for years and only begin to ask questions later in adult life. Autism assessment follows a structured, NICE-aligned process built around a detailed developmental history and validated tools, leading to the same thorough written report.

If you are unsure whether ADHD, autism, or both best explain your experiences, a combined ADHD and autism assessment considers both in a single pathway. You can read more on our autism assessment page.

What it costs

An ADHD assessment (two sessions of 60 minutes each) costs £800. The full schedule of charges, including prescriptions and follow-up appointments, is set out on our fee schedule page.

If you are also considering an autism assessment, a combined ADHD and autism assessment is available for £1,300 (three sessions of 60 minutes). A standalone autism assessment is £800. Many adults enquiring about ADHD have questions about autism too, and a combined assessment is often the most efficient route when both are suspected.

After a diagnosis — treatment, prescribing and shared care with your English GP

Where ADHD is confirmed, medication is one important treatment option. Dr Crocker can prescribe following your assessment, with private prescriptions sent for dispensing at a pharmacy local to you where clinically appropriate, and he provides ongoing follow-up and medication reviews by video in the same way as the assessment itself.

Once treatment is stable, a shared-care arrangement — where your NHS GP takes over routine prescribing while Dr Crocker remains available for specialist input — may be possible. In England, GP participation in shared care following a private diagnosis is voluntary: whether a practice agrees is a matter for the individual GP and their practice, and approaches vary from area to area. Dr Crocker’s assessment reports are written with GP readers in mind: they follow NICE and RCPsych standards and set out the diagnostic reasoning clearly, so that a GP considering a shared-care arrangement has everything they need to make an informed decision. You can read more about how this process works on our shared care with your GP page.

Seen across Newcastle and the North East by secure video

There is no clinic to travel to, no city-centre parking to find, and no waiting room. Patients in the North East attend their appointments via a secure NHS-grade encrypted video platform from wherever they feel most at ease — whether that is a flat in Jesmond or Heaton, a house in Gateshead or Whitley Bay, or a quiet space at home in Durham or rural Northumberland. Appointments are available during the working week, including early mornings and Fridays, to suit busy working and study patterns. Booking is straightforward: get in touch below, and a member of the team will respond within 48 hours.