03/04/2026
"What does consultant level mean?"
Something I want to explain — because this week's headlines about ADHD diagnosis quality make it more important than ever.
At Harley Mind Care, I have a rule. Every single assessment — for every adult, every child, every young person — is conducted by a consultant psychiatrist or consultant paediatrician. Not a junior doctor. Not a trainee. Not a psychologist. Not a nurse practitioner. A consultant.
I want to explain what that actually means. Because most people don't know — and they should.
To become a consultant psychiatrist in the UK, a doctor must complete:
🎓 A medical degree — 5 to 6 years at university
🏥 Foundation training — 2 years in hospitals across different specialities
🧠 Core psychiatry training — 3 years, including passing the MRCPsych examinations set by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
🔬 Higher speciality training — a further 3 years minimum in their chosen sub-speciality.
📋 Certificate of Completion of Training — issued only when the training programme director is satisfied the doctor has met every standard required
📝 GMC Specialist Register — the doctor must be formally listed on the General Medical Council's Specialist Register before they can practise as a Consultant
In total, the minimum journey from starting medical school to becoming a consultant psychiatrist is 13 to 15 years.
That is the level of experience assessing every patient at Harley Mind Care.
This week a government report raised legitimate concerns about some private providers offering quick, inadequate ADHD assessments. I share those concerns. A 30-minute online questionnaire with an unqualified assessor is not a diagnosis. It is a disservice to patients and it damages trust in the whole field.
A thorough assessment is essential to identify if there are any comorbidities that contribute to the presentation of ADHD traits.
The difference at HMC is not marketing language. It is 13 to 15 years of training, Royal College examinations, NHS experience, and GMC specialist registration — for every single clinician who sees your child or yourself.
That is what you are paying for. And in my view, when it comes to understanding your brain or your child's brain — nothing less is acceptable.
Dr Harneet Hundal
Medical Director, Harley Mind Care
Two Masters degrees, University of Cambridge
Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, GMC Specialist Register
harleymindcare.com
📞 020 7047 8888
https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinical-areas/neurology/streeting-commissioned-adhd-audit-finds-rising-diagnoses-do-not-match-prevalence/
Rising diagnoses and referrals for ADHD autism do not appear to be explained by changes in population prevalence, a committee found.
