Right to Choose ADHD in Peterborough: 2026 referral guide

Every Right to Choose referral from Peterborough passes through the commissioning structure of NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB. Nationally, Right to Choose remains the law — but locally, several ICBs have responded to ADHD referral volumes by adding triage hubs, tightening which providers they will route to, or publishing guidance that GPs sometimes misread as a ban. None of this removes your underlying right, but it does change what you should say in the GP appointment.

Two practical checks before you book your GP slot: first, look at the ADHD or neurodevelopmental page on the NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB website for any current statement on Right to Choose; second, check ADHD UK's postcode-level data for reported wait times in your area. If the local NHS pathway is quoting multi-year waits — as most Cambridgeshire services are — that figure is itself useful evidence when you make the case for a Right to Choose referral.

Adults near Peterborough face the longest waits. Most Cambridgeshire trusts prioritise children, leaving adult services chronically underfunded. Many adults who suspect ADHD have suspected it for years — sometimes decades. They have developed elaborate coping strategies that mask the underlying condition, been misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression, and been prescribed SSRIs that never fully resolved their symptoms.

The irony is that ADHD is highly treatable. Stimulant medication has one of the highest response rates of any psychiatric treatment — approximately 70–80% of adults respond well. But you cannot access medication without a diagnosis, and you cannot get a diagnosis without an assessment, and the assessment is years away.

Right to Choose cuts through this. For adults near Peterborough, it means assessment by a specialist ADHD clinician (typically via video) within 3–6 months. Our brain screening provides the evidence that activates the pathway — and our medication guide prepares you for what comes after diagnosis.

The Right to Choose timeline varies by provider and current demand. As of 2026, typical waiting times from GP referral to assessment are: Psychiatry-UK 3–6 months (sometimes longer), Clinical Partners 2–4 months, and selected regional providers 1–3 months. These times fluctuate — check the provider directly for current estimates.

Even at the longer end, Right to Choose is dramatically faster than the standard NHS pathway. A 6-month Right to Choose wait is still 2–4 years shorter than the average NHS wait across Cambridgeshire. During the Right to Choose wait, you are not sitting idle — our brain screening report gives you actionable evidence for school, work, and GP support right now.

Once assessed, if ADHD is confirmed, medication titration typically takes another 4–12 weeks. Most clients near Peterborough are fully stabilised on medication within 6–12 months of their initial brain screening. Compare that to the NHS pathway where you might not even have been assessed in that timeframe.

Step 1 — Get screened. Book our comprehensive assessment (£845) which includes the clinical letter your GP needs. Same-week appointments available. You will have your report and clinical letter the same day.

Step 2 — Prepare for your GP. Read our GP appointment guide. Book a double appointment (20 minutes). Bring: the clinical letter, a completed ASRS questionnaire (adults) or Conners scale (children), written examples of functional impairment, and any old school reports showing childhood difficulties.

Step 3 — Request the referral. Tell your GP: 'I would like to exercise my Right to Choose and be referred to Psychiatry-UK for ADHD assessment.' Present your evidence pack. Key points if they hesitate: Right to Choose is a legal right under Section 3a of the NHS Constitution; Psychiatry-UK has a formal NHS England partnership; the referral process uses standard e-RS; there is no cost to the GP practice.

Step 4 — GP submits the referral. The GP submits through the NHS e-Referral Service or the provider's online form. Your screening report and clinical letter should be attached.

Step 5 — Assessment (3–6 months). The provider contacts you to schedule. Typically a 60–90 minute video assessment. They review all evidence including our brain data, conduct a clinical interview, and make a diagnostic decision. If ADHD is confirmed, medication is initiated and shared care is arranged with your GP.

Your screening report serves multiple purposes simultaneously. While you wait for the Right to Choose assessment (3–6 months), the same report can support: EHCP applications for your child's school, JCQ exam access arrangements (extra time, rest breaks), employer reasonable adjustment requests under the Equality Act 2010, Access to Work evidence gathering, and the Right to Choose referral itself. One screening, one report, multiple applications running in parallel.

If you are later diagnosed and prescribed medication, the baseline brain data becomes invaluable. A follow-up medication scan (£345) compares your on-medication brain activity against the baseline — providing objective evidence that treatment is having the intended neurological effect. This data supports medication dosage reviews and shared care monitoring.

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 Peterborough 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