The Waiting Room
Surviving the Wait for an NHS ADHD or Autism Assessment
You have been left in a queue that can run for years, often after a lifetime of being told you were fine. You are allowed to find that hard. This book shows you the moves that make the wait shorter where they can, and more survivable where they cannot.
If you or your child is stuck on an NHS waiting list for an ADHD or autism assessment, waits that now run for years in much of the country, this is the practical, honest companion for the wait.
Written from lived experience and checked against primary sources (NHS, NICE, gov.uk), it explains how the assessment system actually works: how to get referred, how Right to Choose can cut the wait in England, what an assessment involves, the honest truth about the private route, and the rights and support you can claim without a diagnosis.
No toxic positivity. No everything-happens-for-a-reason. Just the moves that make the wait shorter where they can be, and more survivable where they cannot.
Available now in Kindle eBook and paperback on Amazon UK and Amazon US. By Esme Hartley, author of The Steady Series.
A real toolkit, not platitudes.
The Waiting Room names the hard parts honestly, then walks you through the practical skills that actually help, written by someone who has used every one of them.
- Get referred, and use Right to Choose to cut the England wait
- Choose a provider and know what an assessment involves
- Claim the rights and support you are owed without a diagnosis
- Get school support for a child that does not wait for a label
- Cope while you wait, with honesty instead of platitudes
A note on care. The Waiting Room is written from lived experience and is not a substitute for professional assessment or treatment. It includes UK and international support resources throughout. If you are struggling, you deserve real support, please see the Resources page, where help is gathered in one place.
The Waiting Room, frequently asked
How long is the NHS wait for an ADHD or autism assessment?
It varies enormously by area, from months to several years, and no single figure is a promise about your wait. The Waiting Room explains how to find your local position and, in England, how Right to Choose can cut it dramatically.
What is Right to Choose and can it shorten my wait?
In England, Right to Choose is a legal right to pick an NHS-contracted provider, often with a much shorter waiting list, at no cost to you. It is the single biggest lever in the book, and it shows you how to check the current funding position for your area.
Can I get support before a diagnosis?
Yes. Many rights and adjustments, at work and at school, do not require a diagnosis. The Waiting Room has a whole chapter on the support you can claim while you wait.
Is The Waiting Room medical advice?
No. It is information, not advice, and it does not diagnose. It explains how the UK assessment system works so you can make your own decisions, and points you to the official sources to confirm anything that affects you.
