NHS waiting times in Derby for ADHD
There is no commissioned NHS adult ADHD service in Derby
Derby and Derbyshire has no commissioned local NHS adult ADHD assessment service. Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust explicitly does not assess adults for ADHD. Adults seeking NHS-funded assessment are currently routed to Sheffield (approximately 5-year wait) or can exercise their Right to Choose (approximately 17 weeks with providers in this ICB).
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust explicitly states it does not assess adults for ADHD. Derby and Derbyshire ICB has historically contracted with Sheffield's SAANS service to take adult referrals from Derbyshire, but that service currently has a wait of approximately 5 years. Derbyshire Healthcare does provide adult autism assessment (approximately 59 weeks, with over 1,200 on the waiting list as of early 2025).
Derby is one of the most acute adult ADHD commissioning gaps in England. The absence of a local service means demand is distributed between Sheffield's significantly oversubscribed service and the Right to Choose pathway, making private assessment a particularly relevant option for Derby residents.
Derby and Derbyshire represents one of the most significant adult ADHD commissioning gaps in England. There is no locally commissioned NHS adult ADHD service. Adults seeking NHS assessment must either wait approximately 5 years via Sheffield or exercise their Right to Choose.
Your options in Derby
There are currently several routes to an adult ADHD assessment for people in Derby.
No local NHS adult ADHD service. Referrals historically routed to Sheffield (approximately 5 years) or Right to Choose.
No commissioned local adult ADHD service. Adults must use alternative routes.
Approximately 17 weeks through Right to Choose providers in Derby and Derbyshire ICB, shorter than the Sheffield route
Right to Choose is the most practical NHS-funded route for most adults in Derby and Derbyshire, with a wait of approximately 17 weeks, considerably shorter than the Sheffield alternative.
Within days
Private assessment by a GMC-registered consultant psychiatrist. £799 all inclusive. Full report within 7 days. No referral needed.
Ready to book your Derby assessment?
Available by video call. No referral needed. Report within 7 days.
What a Distinct assessment involves
A Distinct assessment is a 60 to 90 minute structured clinical interview conducted by a GMC-registered consultant psychiatrist via secure video call. It uses the DIVA-5 diagnostic interview alongside validated symptom rating scales, following DSM-5 criteria throughout. You can attend from anywhere in England including Derby, without travelling.
Before your appointment you complete a pre-assessment questionnaire covering your symptoms, history, and daily functioning. At the end of the consultation your psychiatrist shares their clinical conclusion verbally. Your full written report follows within 7 days.
All Distinct assessments are conducted directly by the consultant psychiatrist, not reviewed or countersigned by one. This distinction matters for GP acceptance and shared-care prescribing. Given that Derby has no functioning NHS ADHD service, the clinical authority of your report has a direct bearing on the support you can access afterwards.
Your report and what it enables
Your written diagnostic report is delivered within 7 days of your consultation. It covers your symptom history, the DSM-5 criteria met, the impact on your daily functioning, and clinical recommendations for next steps. It includes a letter addressed to your GP summarising the findings.
Your report can also be used for workplace adjustments under the Equality Act, Disabled Students' Allowance applications, and DVLA disclosure where required. There is no time limit on when you can use it.
Most Derby GPs will accept a diagnosis from a GMC-registered consultant psychiatrist for shared-care prescribing. NHS England guidance indicates GPs should not normally refuse prescribing following a diagnosis from a qualified specialist. We recommend discussing shared-care with your practice alongside booking your assessment. More on sharing your report with your GP.
Frequently asked questions
NHS waiting time data for Derby reflects publicly available information from No commissioned adult ADHD service in Derby or Derbyshire and the relevant ICB, current as of April 2026. Waiting times change and we recommend verifying current figures directly with your GP or the relevant trust.