Why Are NHS ADHD Waits So Long in NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB?
NHS ADHD waiting lists across England have grown significantly, driven by increased diagnosis rates, limited specialist capacity, and underfunding of community mental health services. The NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB area reflects this national picture — many patients wait years for their first NHS ADHD assessment.
The fastest legitimate route to shorter waits is NHS Right to Choose — a legal right allowing your GP to refer you to an approved private provider at NHS cost. Alternatively, private assessment (self-funded) typically has waits of 2–8 weeks.
Private Alternatives in NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB
How long is the NHS ADHD waiting list in NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB?
NHS ADHD waiting times in NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB are not yet reported in enough volume for us to calculate a reliable average. If you have recently been on the waiting list here, please submit your wait time to help other patients.
What is NHS Right to Choose and how does it help with wait times?
NHS Right to Choose (RTC) is a legal right in England allowing patients to choose their provider for a first outpatient appointment. For ADHD, this means your GP can refer you to an approved private provider at NHS cost — waits are typically 2–12 weeks instead of 3–7+ years. Use our provider finder to see which RTC providers operate in your area.
Can I skip the NHS waiting list?
Yes — via NHS Right to Choose (free, NHS-funded assessment at an approved private provider) or private assessment (self-funded, typically £1,200–£2,500 for a full assessment). Both routes bypass the NHS waiting list entirely. Many patients then use the NHS for ongoing prescribing via a shared care agreement with their GP.
How accurate are the wait time figures?
Wait times on this page are crowd-sourced from patient reports submitted to ADHD Map. They represent actual patient experiences rather than official NHS figures. Individual waits vary significantly by GP surgery and referral pathway. We recommend using these as a general guide and contacting your local NHS ADHD service for the most current official estimate.
What does "actual wait" vs "advertised wait" mean?
Providers often advertise headline wait times (e.g. "8 weeks"). Our platform collects actual wait times reported by real patients who have completed the process. The gap between advertised and actual waits is often significant — this discrepancy data is unique to ADHD Map.
Waiting too long? There are faster routes.
See all providers, check Right to Choose status, and read our RTC guide.