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Adult psychiatry · UK

Private psychiatric assessment - consultant-led, done properly.

A one-hour diagnostic assessment with a UK consultant psychiatrist - depression, anxiety, bipolar, OCD, PTSD, personality difficulties - with a written formulation and treatment plan.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What private private psychiatric assessment costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across UK private psychiatry providers.

In short

Consultant psychiatric assessment: £400–£800, letter within 7–10 days.

Option Indicative range
Consultant psychiatric assessment (initial) £400–£800
Follow-up (medication review) £200–£400
Second-opinion assessment (report + review of records) £600–£1,200
Court / medico-legal report £1,500–£4,000
Urgent same-week assessment (uplift) +£100–£300
Shared-care letter to NHS GP Often included

Prices vary by clinic, by the consultant’s seniority, and by whether combinations are used.

The problem

One hour with a consultant beats six months on a list.

When mental health is affecting work, family or safety, an initial consultant psychiatric assessment is the right first step - and it should not take six months to arrange.

  • Consultant, not delegated

    The consultant who assessed you should be the consultant who treats you - not a junior on a busy list.

  • Evidence, not sales

    The recommendation is what fits your clinical picture - not what the clinic wants to sell you today.

  • Written pathway, not verbal promise

    The plan, the prices and the follow-up are in writing before you commit - not surfaced when the invoice arrives.

Who it suits

When private psychiatric care is the right route.

The patients who benefit most, and when NHS crisis services are the right route instead.

  • You have thought about this for a while

    Not an impulse - a decision you have carried and want to act on properly.

  • You want the right treatment, not the fastest

    You want to be seen by a consultant who does this every week, not the next available diary slot.

  • You have tried the obvious first steps

    GP care, over-the-counter routes, or first-line therapy - and the problem is still there.

  • You are otherwise well enough to proceed

    Stable on medication, not acutely unwell, not in a flare that would postpone treatment.

  • You are willing to follow the plan

    Attend the follow-up, take the medicines, do the physio - whichever this treatment needs to work.

  • You are prepared for the recovery

    You have thought about time off work, help at home and - where relevant - the cost of ongoing care.

  • You want a named consultant, not a rotating list

    The person who assesses you should be the person who treats you and reviews you afterwards.

  • Red flag: you were declined elsewhere and want to override that

    If another consultant has said no on medical grounds, it is worth understanding why before looking for another route.

Options

One-off assessment, ongoing care, or second opinion.

The three most common ways private psychiatry fits alongside NHS care.

  • Assessment and shared decision

    A full consultant hour and honest expectations conversation - the difference between a treatment that suits you and one that only suits the clinic.

  • First-line treatment

    What most patients start with, and what most get on with well.

  • Course-based or staged treatments

    Some treatments deliver over three to six visits or in stages.

  • Combined modality

    The strongest outcomes often come from combining approaches - medical, procedural and behavioural. Planning across the year, not the visit, is what works.

  • Maintenance

    Most conditions need ongoing care after the initial treatment. This should be built into the plan up front so you know the real commitment.

  • Alternatives to consider

    Where a different treatment might suit better, a good consultant says so - including newer or older options that the marketing does not push.

  • Escalation pathway

    What happens if this treatment does not work - the next option, in writing, before you start.

  • When to say no or refer

    For patients who fall outside criteria, the right step is referral to the right specialist or back to NHS care rather than treating regardless.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Consultant-led private care is generally low-risk. The things worth planning are candidacy, dose or intensity, downtime and what happens if something is not right.

  • A named UK consultant, in a CQC-regulated setting

    The consultant who assessed you should be the consultant who treats you. That single change removes most of the safety problems patients report.

  • Realistic outcomes, spelled out

    What this treatment can and cannot do - and what happens if it does not work. If you are hoping for something this treatment cannot deliver, you should be told before you book.

  • Written pre-care and aftercare

    What to do before, on the day, and after - including medication changes, contraindications and warning signs. In writing and by message, not verbally in a corridor.

  • Rare but serious risks

    Every treatment has its own list. The consultant discusses them at consent - not glossed, not exaggerated. You take those notes home.

  • Contraindications matter

    Pregnancy, active infection, uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, immunosuppression, bleeding tendency and drug interactions - all reasons to postpone. They should be asked about, and listened to.

  • A same-day contact number

    Written aftercare plus a phone number that answers on the day. Complications improve dramatically with early intervention, and hard to reach clinics cost lives.

  • Included follow-up

    Ask whether the review appointment is booked before you leave and included in the price, rather than billed separately when something is not right.

  • Escalation to hospital where needed

    Any private pathway has to have a plan for when things escalate - which hospital, which team, and how to get there. Ask for this before agreeing to treatment.

  • Written record and second opinion

    You leave with the record, the images and the plan - enough for another consultant to pick up if you ever want a second opinion.

Reading your treatment record

Your treatment record in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever pathway you chose, the record the clinic sends you keeps to the same shape.

A consultant reviewing a treatment record

A quiet reminder

Keep every note, batch and image on file - it matters if you ever need a second opinion.

If you have a record from another clinic, it is reasonable to ask for it to be reviewed before your next visit.

  1. 01 Assessment

    What was recommended and why

    The consultant’s written note - history, examination, differential and the plan agreed with you. Read this alongside the pathway.

  2. 02 Procedure / Treatment

    What was actually done

    The named procedure, materials, medicines and settings used. Keep this - it matters for future care and for any second opinion.

  3. 03 Findings

    What was found or measured

    Any pathology, imaging or intra-procedural findings. Written in plain English alongside the technical terms.

  4. 04 Plan

    Follow-up, medication, warning signs

    Read this first: when to come back, medication changes, what is normal, and what needs a same-day phone call.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Insurance cover for this pathway varies by policy - some elements may be covered, others self-pay. Where NHS provision exists but is delayed, private care is the practical route.

Frequently asked

Common questions about private psychiatric assessment.

Quick answers on candidacy, safety, cost and outcomes.

  • How quickly can I be seen?

    Within 1–2 weeks routinely; within 3–7 days with an urgency uplift. Same-day is possible with some consultants for acute presentations that would otherwise mean A&E.

  • What conditions does a consultant psychiatrist assess?

    Depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, psychosis, personality difficulties, ADHD (with the right specialist), eating disorders, addiction, perinatal mental health, and second opinions on an existing diagnosis.

  • Will my GP prescribe based on a private psychiatric letter?

    For most standard psychiatric medications, yes - shared care is routine. For controlled drugs (stimulants, benzodiazepines) or newer agents (ketamine, esketamine), shared care depends on your ICB and your GP practice.

  • How much does a private psychiatric assessment cost in the UK?

    Roughly £400–£800 for a one-hour initial consultant assessment, £200–£400 per follow-up, £600–£1,200 for a formal second opinion, and £1,500–£4,000 for a court or medico-legal report.

  • Is it a psychiatrist or a psychologist I need?

    A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose, prescribe and manage the medical side of mental illness. A psychologist provides therapy. Many patients need both, and the right route depends on the problem - or a combination.

  • Is this covered by private medical insurance?

    Yes, most UK private medical insurers (Bupa, AXA, Vitality, Aviva, WPA) fund an initial psychiatric assessment and a set number of follow-ups, subject to your policy limits and any exclusions. Check with your insurer before you book.

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