Answers to our most commonly asked questions.
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No - this is a private service and self-referral is anticipated in the majority of cases.
Most UK health insurance policies don't cover ADHD assessment or treatment. At this time we are not working with any UK insurers.
No. This is a private service and we have no special access to obtaining faster NHS assessment.
Please note that if you have an assessment with our service there is no fast track to treatment under the NHS - if you get referred to the NHS after assessment you will join their queue for treatment.
Each client is unique - the number of appointments to achieve a stable medication regime is often in the order of 3 - 6.
It is worth noting that after a diagnosis and effective treatment it is common to experience strong emotions regarding one's prior life which may warrant further exploration.
This is not an emergency service. Appointments are by prior arrangement. If you are in a crisis please contact emergency services, eg NHS 111, Lifeline, Samaritans etc
Sometimes it is necessary to re-schedule or cancel an appointment. The Cambridge ADHD Centre asks that clients provided as much notice as possible so that the appointment can be made available for another client. A reminder text is usually sent two days before each appointment but clients are responsible for remembering their appointments. A cancellation fee of up to 50% may be charged for appointments re-scheduled or cancelled within 36h.
Invoices are emailed soon after appointments. We will be introducing a pay on the day option. Assessments are payable before the release of the report.
Either by electronic transfer or the invoices contact payment hyperlinks. We regret that we cannot accept cash or cheque.
Very few GPs are trained to initiate medication for ADHD so such a request will be declined. Medication should be initiated and stabilised by a specialist service. Once the specialist service has done this, the GP has the option to enter into a shared care agreement with a specialist service, part of which is to provide ongoing NHS prescriptions.
It is worth checking with your NHS GP from the outset whether they are able to support you in a shared care agreement for provision of prescriptions, in the event that you are diagnosed.
GPs are not obliged to enter into a shared care agreement with a private provider and there is a range of reasons why they may choose not to do so.
The Cambridge ADHD Centre is available to offer education and support to NHS GPs who require further information.
If your NHS GP practice cannot assist you on the basis of limited capacity, then options would include you writing to your Member of Parliament to highlight the pressure on General Practice and/or registering with another practice.
Not necessarily. As a neurodevelopmental condition, some features of ADHD can be expected to remain stable throughout your lifetime. However, it is common that the impact of some of these can decrease over time. A young adult who didn't learn organisational skills in childhood due to limited available attention can often learn more effectively when taking medication and having learned new skills and self awareness may function better than before without medication. Some adults benefit from medication daily, others find it more useful for specific types of task requiring prolonged concentration. Others make life choices which sidestep some of the difficulties created by their ADHD or which allow the benefits which come with their ADHD to be more fully realised.
Any confidential information you give The Cambridge ADHD Centre will be stored in password protected two-factor authentication practice management software. Information will be shared within the multidisciplinary team with those who have a legitimate interest. Information will only be disclosed to additional parties with your prior consent, with the following exceptions:
- if you are involved in a legal situation and your file is subpoenaed
- if there are specific concerns about your safety or the safety of others, the service may need to disclose this information to other relevant professionals
As soon as there are symptoms which are causing a negative impact.
ADHD often makes formal education more complicated and can make some types of employment more difficult. Many people with ADHD have more innate ability than their academic marks may suggest, having achieved these results with less than their full attention. Early identification and treatment reduces the risk of academic underperformance, with its associated psychological scars and real-life consequences. The treatments available for ADHD are extremely effective and make a big different to the course of a child's education.
Well yes actually. There are many positive aspects of having ADHD in addition to the negative ones. Many adults are very grateful for their ADHD which gives some advantages in adult life.
Exploring the benefits and impact of ADHD is long process of building self-awareness and skill acquisition. All this is achieved more readily while taking medication.
The DVLA states "You must tell DVLA if your attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects your ability to drive safely". Further information is available from the DVLA website
This is a complex area and best discussed with your clinician.