Right to Choose ADHD in Derby

GPs near Derby are not the enemy. They are overwhelmed professionals handling 30+ patients per day with 10-minute appointments. When someone comes in saying 'I think I have ADHD,' the GP has to weigh this against limited clinical evidence, competing priorities, and the knowledge that the referral will land on a service already drowning in demand.

This context explains why evidence matters so much. A GP who receives a well-structured clinical letter with objective brain data, z-scores, and peer-reviewed citations can process the referral efficiently and confidently. They are not being asked to diagnose — they are being asked to refer, and the evidence makes the referral defensible.

Our GP evidence guide includes everything you need to prepare for that appointment: what to say, what to bring, how to handle pushback, and when to invoke Right to Choose explicitly. The combination of our clinical letter and this preparation makes GP refusal extremely unlikely.

Right to Choose is enshrined in the NHS Constitution under Section 3a. It gives every patient in England the legal right to choose which qualified provider carries out their first outpatient appointment — including ADHD assessment. In practice, this means your GP near Derby can refer you to an approved private provider, and the NHS pays the full cost.

For ADHD, the most commonly used provider is Psychiatry-UK, which has a formal partnership with NHS England. Other approved providers include Clinical Partners and selected regional clinics. The assessment follows identical NICE NG87 guidelines — clinical interview, developmental history, behavioural rating scales, and diagnostic formulation. The only difference is speed: 3–6 months instead of 2–5 years.

Right to Choose is not a loophole, a workaround, or a grey area. It is established NHS policy. Your GP cannot refuse your right to choose a provider — they can only decline to refer for ADHD if they genuinely believe a referral is not clinically warranted. That is why evidence matters: objective brain data makes the clinical case impossible to dismiss.

For parents near Derby pursuing Right to Choose for their child, the process is identical but the preparation is slightly different. Gather: our brain screening report, school observations or SENCO reports, Conners parent and teacher rating scales, examples of difficulties across settings (home, school, social), and any old developmental health visitor records.

At the GP appointment, frame it around the child's functional impairment: academic underperformance relative to ability, social difficulties, emotional dysregulation, and the impact on family life. Present the brain data as objective neurological evidence supporting the referral. Request Right to Choose referral to a provider that assesses children (Psychiatry-UK, Clinical Partners).

After referral, the provider will send questionnaires to you and your child's school before the assessment appointment. The assessment itself is typically longer for children (90–120 minutes) and may include direct observation. If ADHD is confirmed, the specialist discusses treatment options with you and initiates medication if agreed, with shared care transferred to your GP.

The Psychiatry-UK assessor who conducts your Right to Choose assessment will review all available evidence before the appointment. Most patients arrive with questionnaires and a GP referral letter. You will arrive with those plus objective neurological data that no other patient typically brings. This does not guarantee diagnosis — that is a clinical decision based on the full picture. But it gives the assessor an additional evidence dimension that enhances the assessment quality and efficiency.

Several assessors have told clients that our reports are among the most detailed screening documents they receive. The z-scores, frequency band analysis, and Go/No-Go attention data provide a neurocognitive profile that complements the clinical interview. The assessment becomes a richer, more informed process.

A third option is fully private assessment (£700–£1,500), which has the shortest wait (2–8 weeks) but you pay the full cost. Many people from Derby combine approaches: brain screening (£595–£845) + Right to Choose assessment (free) + Access to Work support (free). Total out-of-pocket: the screening only. View all pricing options.

We provide Right to Choose evidence for children aged 6+, teenagers, adults, and women & girls who are systematically underdiagnosed by questionnaire-based assessment.

Each person is compared against age-matched normative data from published research. The clinical letter is tailored for Right to Choose referral submissions, with z-scores, peer-reviewed citations, and specific recommendations your GP can act on immediately.

View packages: standard screening (£595) · comprehensive (£845) · family package (£1,095) · all pricing

After your screening: ADHD support hub · results explained · what to do next · GP appointment guide · medication guide · coping strategies · workplace rights · ADHD in women · parent's guide · relationships guide · sleep guide · exercise & ADHD