Written by Dr Elena Maritan, Consultant Psychiatrist. Last reviewed: 16 September 2026
At The Blue Tree Clinic we aim to offer an initial appointment within one week, in South Hampstead or online. That is our standard, not a best case, and it is the main practical difference between seeing us and waiting.
Why speed is the reason most people pay
For most of our patients the deciding factor is not that private care is better. It is that the wait has become part of the problem.
NHS community mental health waits in most of London run to months. For neurodevelopmental assessment they frequently run to years. There is nothing wrong with the clinicians. The service is carrying more demand than it was built for.
A few months is manageable when things are stable. It is not manageable when you are about to lose a job, when a course of study is collapsing, when a relationship is under strain, or when you have been on a medication for a year that is not working and nobody has reviewed it.
What actually happens when you contact us
You send your details through the contact form and we call you back. We do not run a switchboard, because a callback from someone who can actually answer your questions beats being put on hold.
On that call we establish what you are looking for and which clinician is right, which matters more than it sounds. Booking a psychologist when you need a psychiatrist, or the reverse, costs you weeks.
We then offer you an appointment, in most cases within a week, either in South Hampstead or online. Online appointments are usually available soonest and are clinically equivalent for most psychiatric work.
After the appointment, a written report follows within two to three weeks if one is needed.
If you need to be seen today
We are an outpatient clinic and we are not an emergency service.
If you are in crisis, if you are thinking about harming yourself, or if you are worried about someone who is, please contact your GP for an urgent appointment, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option, or go to your nearest emergency department. In an emergency call 999.
Those services are available now, and they are the right ones. Do not wait for a private appointment if the situation is urgent.
You can also talk to Samaritans free at any hour on 116 123.
If you can wait, consider the free route first
For ADHD and autism assessment in England, NHS Right to Choose is funded by the NHS and costs nothing. For therapy, NHS Talking Therapies accepts self referral in England without a GP appointment. Both are slower. Both are free.
We would rather you were seen than spent money you did not need to spend.
Speed does not mean a shorter appointment
One thing worth saying, because fast private care has a reputation. Seeing someone quickly does not mean seeing them briefly.
An initial psychiatric assessment is a long appointment. It covers your history, your physical health, your medication, your circumstances and what has already been tried. The unhurried length of that appointment is most of what you are paying for. Getting it next week rather than next year is the other part.
Book an appointment
South Hampstead, London NW3, or online. We aim to offer an initial appointment within one week.
We operate a callback system. Send us your details through the contact form and we will call you back.
The Coach House, 39 College Crescent, South Hampstead, London NW3 5LB
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can I see a private psychiatrist? We aim to offer an initial appointment within one week, in South Hampstead or online. Online appointments are usually available soonest.
Can I be seen today? We are an outpatient clinic, not an emergency service. If you are in crisis, contact your GP urgently, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option, or go to your nearest emergency department. In an emergency call 999.
Is a fast appointment a shorter appointment? No. An initial psychiatric assessment is a long appointment covering your history, physical health, medication and circumstances. The unhurried length is most of what you are paying for.