Right to Choose (NHS England)
Latest Right To Choose Providers wait times click here to scroll down.
Introduction
If you are based in England under the NHS you now have a legal right to choose your mental healthcare provider and your choice of mental healthcare team. This important right means that, for instance, should you decide the waiting time for your ADHD assessment is too long, then you can choose alternative providers. The provider must supply the service to the NHS somewhere in England. The providers we are aware of are listed below and we update the list regularly.
Right to Choose within mental health is a relatively new option (since 2018) and as such, not all patients, GPs or other clinicians are aware of it and how it works. We’ve got an explanation targeted for people going through the ADHD Assessment process below.
For how Right to Choose fits into the diagnosis pathway please click here. We’ve also got a downloadable support letter for anyone who finds their GP has initially declined them.
You will also find significant amounts of information via the NHS link on NHS choices below:
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/your-choices-in-the-nhs/
Read the adult diagnosis pathway first
This is a detailed page on Right to Choose which aims to provide additional information for those that need it. To understand the context and use of Right to Choose it is important to read the Adult Diagnosis Pathway page first.
The Right to Choose System
Patients have the Right to Choose when the following conditions are met:
- the NHS practice is in England (different rules apply for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)
- the General Practitioner has agreed to make clinically appropriate outpatient referral (Of note: The decision to make a referral is the GPs responsibility and separate from Right to Choose. Right to Choose is a patient’s right to decide where that referral is to
The above is designed to be wide ranging in its application to patient choice. However. there are certain restrictions on a patient’s Right to Choose that you should be aware of. Patients cannot use Right to Choose is they are:
- already receiving mental health care following an elective referral for the same condition
- referred to a service that is commissioned by a local authority, for example a drug and alcohol service (unless commissioned under a Section 75 agreement)
- accessing urgent or emergency (crisis) care
- accessing services delivered through a primary care contract
- in high secure psychiatric services
- detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
- detained in a secure setting. This includes people in or on temporary release from prisons, courts, secure children’s homes, certain secure training centres, immigration removal centres or young offender institutions
- serving as a member of the armed forces (family members in England have the same rights as other residents of England.
There are restrictions on who the patient can direct their care to. Patients cannot refer to just any provider. The provider must:
- have a commissioning contract with any Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) or NHS England for the required service
- have the service and team led by a consultant or a mental healthcare professional
Common GP queries include:
- does an IFR (Individual Funding Request) need to be in place? It does not
- does the CCG need to be asked permission? It does not
For the avoidance of any doubt: It is our clear understanding, and we know of hundreds who have done so, that an ADHD Assessment falls under Right to Choose.
As a charity we are passionate about helping those with ADHD. We are aware of many long waiting lists within the NHS and therefore will direct people to Right to Choose. If you think it would help, we are also happy to mediate and advocate for those patients where their Right to Choose is being discussed. If you would like to get in touch please contact us.
Right to Choose Providers – ADHD Assessments
We are aware of the following Right to Choose providers. If you are aware of any more then please let us know. To be notified of new providers as we learn about them please join our mailing list.
Summary Table (Scroll down for details)
Quick view summary in the table. Full details from each provider, and links to them, are then below.
(Where clinically appropriate)
Some providers have a secondary medication queue.
Accepting new referrals:
Adult ADHD Diagnostic Assessment and Treatment Service based in North-West London . They offer Right-to-Choose both face-to-face and virtual appointments for ADHD Assessment and Treatment.
From Harrow Health: “Diagnostic assessment is by one of our experienced ADHD Consultant Psychiatrists.
Once diagnosed, you will receive advice on the proposed treatment plan. If that includes medication, and you agree, you will usually receive your first prescription at the end of your diagnostic appointment with no wait time. We utilise an Electronic Prescribing System (EPS) so we can send the prescription directly to your local pharmacy closest to you with the right medication. Medication titration will be carried out by one of our highly trained and experienced ADHD Nurses or Pharmacists. They will provide the required number of follow-up appointments to achieve stabilisation.
Once stable, patients will aim to enter into a shared care agreement where we will support your GP in their care plan. You will always be seen by a consultant psychiatrist to ensure your medication regime is optimised before a shared care proposal is sent to your GP”.
How to refer? Your GP can refer you to our service via Patient Choice using the Electronic Referral System. This is a wholly NHS service and therefore no provision to provide private patient appointments.”
Note: Harrow Health solely offer adult ADHD assessment. They do not offer Autism assessments. They do not offer any Child Assessments.
December 2024 Update: They are open for Right to Choose bookings. We are being told the wait time is the following:
- Right to Choose (RTC) from referral received to assessment: 10-12 weeks.
- Link to Harrow Heath’s Right to Choose Information
NEW RTC PROVIDER
For up-to-date waiting time information, please contact 0203 989 6766 choosing option 3, or email – harhl.adhd@nhs.net
You can ask your GP to refer to us via e-RS (Electronic referral system) in the first instance or they can email us a referral to harhl.adhd@nhs.net
ADHD 360 provide both Right to Choose and Private ADHD Assessments. They started providing their Right to Choose service in mid-2021.
Dr J and Colleagues provide both Right to Choose and Private ADHD and Autism Assessments. They are a small provider and tell us that means they can work through the funding provision from the NHS particularly quickly.
December 2024 Update: We are currently accepting Right to Choose bookings for both ADHD and ASD assessments and treatments, with an estimated waiting time of 8 to 12 weeks for either service.
We provide children ADHD assessment and medication titration treatment privately only. We also provide child Autism assessment privately only.
ProblemShared is a practitioner-led, CQC-regulated online mind health provider, working with a community of expert practitioners to broaden access to the highest quality care for people across the UK. Their assessments are strength-based and person-centred, and they are the only right to choose provider to offer a neurodevelopmental service that includes psychoeducation workshops as part of their post-diagnostic care.
Under Right to Choose, ProblemShared offers:
Assessments:
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ADHD and autism assessments for adults aged 18+.
Post-diagnostic care including:
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Group psychoeducation workshops, which are a space for newly diagnosed clients to learn more about their diagnosis.
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ADHD medication where appropriate.
ProblemShared’s digital referral process is quick and efficient for both you and your GPs to use. They also provide a downloadable GP letter. For referral information please visit: Right To Choose England (problemshared.net).
RTN Mental Health Solutions is made up of two providers:
- RTN Diagnostics provides NICE compliant child (age 6+) and adult autism assessments through Right to Choose and privately. They also provide private child ADHD assessments.
- RTN Medical provides NICE compliant adult ADHD assessments and medication through Right to Choose and privately.
RTN primarily provides online assessments, but is happy to arrange face-to-face assessments in your local area, when remote assessment is not suitable.
From RTN Mental Health Solutions:
“RTN Mental Health Solutions was founded in 2019, with a team of specialist clinicians,
therapists, researchers, managers and administrative staff who are all committed to improving the lives of neurodivergent people. Many of our team are neurodivergent and bring extensive lived experience to our patient-centred service. Our mission is to provide fast and easy access to NICE-compliant assessments for ADHD and Autism both privately and via the Right to Choose pathway, offering support to individuals before, during and after the assessment process.
RTN has been delivering autism and ADHD assessments on behalf of the NHS since late-2023 and is delighted to be able to offer access to most of our services via the NHS Right to Choose pathway. We hope to include child ADHD assessments in the near future. Thanks to our innovative approach, we are able to commence all new assessments within 7-
days of a successful GP referral. Once the pre-assessment process is complete, we usually
offer appointments within 4 weeks”.
Clinical Partners provides both Right to Choose and Private ADHD and Autism Assessments. We are eligible to deliver a Right to Choose medication titration service for individuals we have diagnosed, as well as offering a separate private medication service.
- For the latest information on waiting times, please contact us at 020 3761 7029 or email rtc@clinical-partners.co.uk.
- Right to Choose Medication Titration Services:
- For more details on adult titration services, please visit: clinical-partners.co.uk/nhs-services/right-to-choose/adult-adhd-titration
- For more information on titration services for children and young people, visit: clinical-partners.co.uk/nhs-services/right-to-choose/child-adhd-titration
December 2024 Update:
- For adult ADHD assessments referred after 11th December 2024, the wait time is approximately 23 weeks.
- For children and young people’s ADHD assessment, the wait time is approximately 12 weeks, although we anticipate this will change with demand for the service.
- Autism assessments for adults and children are currently 23 weeks.
- Clinical Partners has significantly increased capacity for Right to Choose patients, meaning we are working through the wait list at a much faster pace. This has allowed us to reduce wait times for assessments and offer ADHD assessments for children and young people, as well as medication titration.
Psicon offers Right to Choose Autism and ADHD assessments (as well as ADHD treatment for children and young people following a Psicon assessment). Psicon do not currently provide right to choose assessments for adults.
November 2024 Update:
Children and Young People (Under 18 years):
Wait times are always subject to change due to demand, but the current wait for an assessment for referrals received from 1st November 2024, is approximately 9-12 months. The previous 6-9 month wait time will be honoured for referrals received prior to 1st November 2024.
- Autism assessment: Assessments available for children aged 3-18 years. They offer in-person assessments in Basingstoke, Hampshire. They can accept referrals from anywhere in England if families are willing to travel. They do not provide online only autism assessments.
- ADHD assessment & treatment (titration): Available for children aged 6-18 years. Assessments are available in person in Basingstoke, Hampshire or online if the child/young person is deemed to be clinically suitable following triage. Note that we do not currently have a waiting list for titration following diagnosis.
Visit Right to Choose UK | NHS Referral Process | Psicon for more information.
Oakdale Centre offer Right to Choose and Private Assessments for ADHD and Autism for both adults and children. Assessments are face to face only (in either Harrogate, Halifax or Leeds) but you do not need to be local. They do not offer an NHS medication option at this time. Medication is available privately until they can set up their NHS pathway. We do not have information on how long that will be.
Services:
Autism Assessments -Child (from 2 years) and Adult.
ADHD Assessments – Child (from 6 years) and Adult.
From the Oakdale Centre:
“Oakdale are very pleased to be an NHS contracted provider of ADHD, Autism and Combined / Dual (Autism and ADHD) assessments for both children and adults.
We can also offer privately self-funded assessments.
We have an experienced, multidisciplinary team and each assessment is carefully conducted by qualified practitioners in accordance with NICE guidelines.
We value the importance of face to face aspects to assessments and have clinics in Harrogate, Halifax and Leeds which clients would be required to attend at least once.
Oakdale understands the importance of diagnosis and values and embraces neurodiversity, recognising the unique strengths and challenges that come with neurodevelopmental differences.
We are actively working towards developing more diagnostic support services and now offer a self-funded option for ADHD Medication”.
September Update:
Current waiting list times for NHS funded assessments is approximately 12 – 18 months.
Evolve Psychology have several clinics across the UK, Harrogate – North Yorkshire, Huddersfield – West Yorkshire, Exeter – Devon & Cornwall, Norwich – Norfolk. They offer Right To Choose assessments for ADHD and Autism (or both as a combined neurodevelopmental assessment) for children/ young people up to the age of 19 who are in education. They are also now able to offer Right to choose service for adults for AUTISM only assessments. They do not offer adult ADHD assessments under Right to choose, but do have a private service. They can accept referrals England-wide. They prefer face to face assessments, but might be able to offer online assessments for autism only assessments if the inclusion criteria is met.
November 2024 Update: They are at 12-16 months waiting time. Able to take referrals for 0-19 year olds for autism and/or ADHD. We are delighted to now be able to take Right To Choose referrals for adults for autism only assessments. We continue to offer private and Insurance referrals for adults ADHD assessments.
NHS Medication Option: Evolve do not offer a titration service, and each geographical locality in England has different referral routes for considering medication. Following assessment, if the client receives a diagnosis for ADHD their comprehensive report will give recommendations for ongoing management of the symptoms of ADHD. We may make a recommendation that they would benefit from an assessment by a psychiatrist for pharmacological interventions for ADHD. We advise that this assessment could either be done via psychiatry in the NHS e.g. through specialist ADHD services or CAMHS, or privately. We highlight that a meeting with a psychiatrist allows the client or family to discuss possible continued medication options to treat the symptoms of ADHD. If medication is prescribed after any assessment meeting by the psychiatrist, then we advise that they should be reviewed regularly by a psychiatrist. As clients come to us from across the UK, we advise that any medication would need to be discussed with your local specialist services, CAMHS or GP depending upon what services are available in their area.
Psychiatry-uk.com. The largest provider of right to choose ADHD assessments in the UK. Their assessments are done by video call, which has become commonplace since the pandemic. Psychiatry UK provide details on Right To Choose, including a downloadable letter to give your GP, here.
December 2024 Update: The current wait list for diagnosis for new adult ADHD patients is estimated to be up to 12 months although patients may be seen sooner based on individual circumstances and readiness for appointment. The current wait list for diagnosis for new adult Autism patients is estimated to be up to 6 months although patients may be seen sooner based on individual circumstances and readiness for appointment.
Paused or stopped taking new referrals:
Axia ASD are based in Chester and offer local physical and England-wide virtual assessment options under Right to Choose for adults only, and Private for adults and children. For Right To Choose, they provide diagnosis but do not take on medication or titration process, so it’s important to check with your GP or local mental health clinic that they can support the medication process if required.
July 2023 Update: As per their website, ADHD assessments are no longer offered since end of December 2021, only ASD for the time being.
In the event of a GP initially declining your Right to Choose
The vast majority of GPs understand Right to Choose and appreciate the need for many patients to use it to bypass long NHS waiting lists (we are campaigning against those). Within ADHD UK we’ve heard countless stories of GPs helping their patients with it and are grateful to them for doing so. In a very small number of cases we know of GPs initially refusing to allow a patient their Right to Choose. In the majority of these cases it has been due to a slight misunderstanding and not appreciating it was a patient right. To help people in that situation we have a downloadable letter for you to give your GP.
