Is an Online ADHD Assessment Valid in Ireland?
More ADHD assessments now happen over video, and many people wonder whether that counts. In Ireland it does, as long as the right person carries it out in the right way. Here's what the Irish Medical Council's own rules say.
By Dr Shaeraine Raaj, MRCPsych, Consultant Psychiatrist. Last reviewed: 29 September 2026.
Is an online ADHD assessment legally valid in Ireland?
Yes. Nothing in Irish medical regulation says an assessment must happen in the same room as the clinician. What makes an assessment valid is who does it and how it is conducted — not whether it happens over video. The Irish Medical Council's own guidance says a doctor providing telemedicine "must observe the same standards of conduct and practice as would be expected if treating the patient in-person".
What makes an ADHD assessment valid, if not the format?
Three things, and none of them depend on being in the same room:
Who does it. A psychiatrist registered with the Irish Medical Council, on the Specialist Division for psychiatry — not an unregulated coach, app, or quiz.
How it is conducted. A structured clinical interview against a recognised diagnostic standard (DSM-5 criteria), not a symptom checklist alone.
What comes out of it. A written diagnostic report a GP, employer, or DARE application can actually rely on — not just a verbal impression.
A video consultation with a registered consultant psychiatrist, run to that standard, is not a lesser version of an in-person assessment. It is the same assessment, delivered differently.
What does the Irish Medical Council say about telemedicine?
Paragraph 37.1 of its Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics states: "If you provide telemedicine services to patients, you must observe the same standards of conduct and practice as would be expected if treating the patient in-person". There is no separate, lower bar for a remote assessment — the same professional, ethical and legal obligations apply either way.
How do I check a clinician is actually registered?
Search the Irish Medical Council's public register at medicalcouncil.ie/public-information/check-the-register. Type the doctor's name and confirm the registration number matches what they publish. Dr Raaj's registration number, IMC 409852, is published on About us — check it against the register yourself rather than taking our word for it.
Does being online skip any safety steps?
No. If medication is clinically indicated, the same steps apply regardless of how the assessment happened: a GP cardiovascular check (blood pressure, heart rate, and an ECG if relevant) is still required before a stimulant is first prescribed, arranged with your own GP. Being seen by video does not remove a single one of the checks a registered psychiatrist would run in person — it changes where you sit for the appointment, not what the appointment has to cover.
How does MindBridge's online assessment work?
MindBridge's adult ADHD assessment is a consultant-psychiatrist-led video process: two pre-screening questionnaires, a 90-minute DIVA-5 structured interview under DSM-5 criteria, a results consultation, a written diagnostic report, and a letter to your GP. It follows the same HSE Model of Care framework the public system uses. See what a private ADHD assessment costs and where the public HSE route stands for the rest of the picture. To book, see ADHD assessment.
Need help now? In an emergency call 999 or 112, or go to your nearest emergency department. Samaritans: call 116 123, free, 24 hours a day. Text About It: free-text HELLO to 50808, 24/7. More ways to get urgent help, on hse.ie
About this article
This article is general information. It is not medical or legal advice and it cannot tell you whether you have a condition. It does not replace an assessment by a qualified clinician, and reading it does not make you a patient of MindBridge Medical.
If you are worried about your health, speak to your GP or another registered clinician. In an emergency call 999 or 112, or go to your nearest emergency department.
Written by Dr Shaeraine Raaj, MRCPsych, Consultant Psychiatrist.
Medically reviewed by Dr Shaeraine Raaj, MRCPsych, Consultant Psychiatrist (Irish Medical Council 409852, Specialist Division). Reviewed 29 September 2026.
Last reviewed: 29 September 2026. How we review our content
Considering an assessment: ADHD assessment →