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:
Montrose Health Group is a CQC-regulated independent private healthcare service specialising in the treatment of addiction, mental health, and neurodiversity for individuals aged 13 and over. Based in Nether Edge, Sheffield, our private outpatient clinic offers a co passionate and supportive space for in-person assessments and ongoing treatment.
We are the only private clinic in Sheffield providing face-to-face ADHD and mental health assessments and treatment for both adolescents and adults. Our responsive service model ensures timely access to care through a structured pathway that includes:
- Telephone triage
- In-person assessment
- Outpatient treatment and prescribing
- Community-based support
- Coaching
Our multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, specialist nurses, and therapeutic practitioners is committed to delivering exceptional, person-centred care. With expertise across neurodiversity, mental health, and addiction, we support each individual with compassion, clinical excellence, and a focus on long-term wellbeing.
Contact us today for your ADHD assessment
+44 (0) 1433 350 500
NEW RTC PROVIDER
A family-owned private therapy and assessment company specialises in services in the Mental Health and Brain Injury Sectors. Our core values centre around establishing meaningful connections with our clients and their families while delivering therapy and assessments of the highest quality.
We are dedicated to ensuring that individuals of all ages, both adults, and children & young people have access to the appropriate services to thrive within their families, cultivate friendships, and become integral members of their communities.
Our team of clinicians specialise in adult and/or Child Autism Assessments, receiving comprehensive training and ongoing support to deliver high-quality assessments, reports, and therapy sessions within a multidisciplinary team.
We pride ourselves in good communication with patients, informing them of the process along the way and answering any questions they may have.
07494 950710
Kirsop-Taylor Healthcare Ltd, Office 43, Chichester Enterprise Centre, Terminus Rd, Chichester PO19 8FY
NEW RTC PROVIDER
Skylight Psychiatry is a CQC regulated specialist multidisciplinary service offering Adult Autism and ADHD assessments via NHS Right to Choose.
Our Autism assessments are offered using a hybrid approach of remote and face to face appointments (one of the appointments must be face-to-face). Clinic locations for your face to face appointment can be viewed here: https://www.skylightpsychiatry.co.uk/get-in-touch/
We currently primarily offer our ADHD assessments via remote online assessments, however can arrange face to face assessments in certain clinic locations where a remote assessment is not suitable.
Our medication titration pathway is currently in its final stages of mobilisation. We are happy to add patients with a recent NHS Right to Choose ADHD diagnosis by Skylight Psychiatry to our Medication Titration waiting list, and will be in touch as soon as you reach the top of the waiting list. We currently estimate around a 3-4 month wait time. We are currently unable to offer Right to Choose Titration if you have been assessed by another provider.
Skylight Psychiatry have been delivering Adult Autism and ADHD assessments on behalf of the NHS and privately since 2023, and we are happy to announce that we are now able to offer both of these services via the NHS Right to Choose pathway, and will be opening up our children’s services on a private basis in Spring 2025.
Due to a large influx of referrals and enquiries, please allow up to 3 weeks from receipt of your referral, to initial contact. If you do not hear from us within this time, and your GP has advised your referral has been sent, please contact us at help@skylightpsychiatry.co.uk
We cannot accept referrals that do not come from a GP Surgery in England. Self-referrals are not accepted.
You can find information on our most frequently asked questions: FAQs – Skylight Psychiatry or information on how to get your GP to submit a referral to us can be found here:
NHS Right to Choose Adult ADHD Assessments
NHS Right to Choose for Adult Autism Assessments – Skylight Psychiatry
NEW RTC PROVIDER
Provide Wellbeing currently offer Adult ADHD assessments, and Child Autism assessments via the NHS Right to Choose. We are looking to also include Child ADHD assessments, and Adult Autism assessments in the near future.
Your assessment can be in person, at one of our clinics in Colchester, Chelmsford, or (Cambridge via our partner company Mind Professionals), and we will soon be offering virtual appointments for patients outside of these areas for both Autism and ADHD.
Provide Wellbeing also offer private ADHD and Autism assessments as well as combined assessments. If you choose a Right to Choose assessment with Provide Wellbeing, you can upgrade this to a combined assessment at a significantly reduced rate.
If medication is deemed suitable, Provide Wellbeing can prescribe medication following an ADHD diagnosis. Provide Wellbeing can offer Shared Care or can continue to prescribe medication if a Shared Care arrangement is not accepted by the patient’s GP on a self-pay basis.
For more information, please visit our webpage or contact our friendly team at hello@providewellbeing.co.uk
NEW RTC PROVIDER
Paloma Health believes that no one should wait years for the care they need. With no waiting lists for their services, it’s simple to access the high-quality care your family deserves.
Through the Paloma Health Portal, you are in control—scheduling your own appointment and observation at a time that suits your family. With clear communication throughout the assessment process, you’ll always know exactly what to expect and when.
May 2025 Update:
The following autism assessments for children are available:
- Fully remote assessments (ages 7–18)
- Assessments with an in-person observation in Devon (ages 0–18)
Get your NHS GP referral today to access these available assessments.
Upcoming services:
- ADHD assessments for children – launching Summer 2025
- ADHD assessments for adults – launching 2025
- Autism assessments for adults – launching 2025
Get your NHS GP referral today to access assessments without waiting!
Referrals to an upcoming service can’t be accepted until the service has launched.
NEW RTC PROVIDER
The Centre for ADHD Research and Excellence (CARE ADHD)
Accepting adult Right to Choose referrals
CARE ADHD is a CQC-registered provider of Adult ADHD assessment and treatment, that has supported thousands of happy patients since April 2024. Since November 2024, been open to NHS Right to Choose, meaning patients in any part of the country have the right to ask their GP for a referral to CARE ADHD.
CARE ADHD says (May 2025):
Our mission at CARE ADHD is to help the NHS with large waiting lists and to make ADHD care more accessible for all. We have been building an infrastructure with a large amount of clinical capacity and technology which we hope will meet high levels of ADHD demand, stringent high standards of clinical quality.
As far as we know we are one of only NHS Right to Choose providers who consistently meets the 18-week NHS constitution standard from referral to treatment.
As at May 2025, our typical waiting time is around 2-3 months and we expect this to come down. Please note that while this is the average, it is not a guarantee!
A few weeks after your referral, we send you some pre-assessment questionnaires by way of preparation. Once you have done these, the appointment is usually booked very quickly.
If diagnosed and you wish to pursue medication treatment we also have a specialist medication team who can support you to initiate your ADHD medication safely, and offer annual follow ups, free at the point of use through the NHS, through Right to Choose.
Link to CARE ADHD’s Right to Choose information
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.
February 2025 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
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.
May 2025 Update: We are currently accepting Right to Choose bookings for both ADHD and ASD assessments and treatments, with an estimated waiting time of 18 to 20 weeks for either service.
We provide children ADHD assessment and medication titration treatment privately only. We also provide child Autism assessment privately only.
ADHD 360 provide both Right to Choose and Private ADHD Assessments. They started providing their Right to Choose service in mid-2021.
April 2025 Update:
- Private Adult Wait time: 8 weeks
- Private Child Wait time: 6 weeks
- NHS Contracted Activity Wait Time: 6 weeks
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.
April 2025 Update: Under Right to Choose, ProblemShared offers:
Assessments:
-
ADHD and autism assessments for adults aged 18+.
Post-diagnostic care including:
-
Group psychoeducation workshops, which are a space for newly diagnosed clients to learn more about their diagnosis.
-
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.
May 2025 Update: 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”.
Working with individuals and families facing mental and emotional difficulties privately and with the NHS, Clinical Partners offers a trusted pathway for neurodevelopmental care. We provide expert ADHD and autism assessments for anyone aged five and above, available through our NHS Right to Choose ADHD and Autism Assessments and our Private ADHD and Autism Assessments.
Our team of more than 200 specialist clinicians, supported by a dedicated patient support team, ensures that every assessment is conducted with precision and to the highest clinical standards. As a CQC and NHS registered provider, our NICE compliant assessments are carried out through secure, online appointments, making the process both accessible and convenient.
Beginning with a straightforward GP referral, our comprehensive process leads to an in-depth diagnostic evaluation and detailed reports with personalised recommendations.
We provide accessible ADHD medication support, including a Right to Choose medication service. For more details please visit our adult medication services page or our children and young people medication services page.
For any additional information, please refer to our right to choose page or contact us at 020 3761 7029 or email rtc@clinical-partners.co.uk.
April 2025 Update:
- Since January we have seen a significant month-on-month increase in referrals to our service, well over the increase we expected. As a result, our wait times for new referrals increased in March.
- Our wait times are based on the current Right to Choose framework but could be subject to change based on future NHS funding decisions. We’ll communicate any updates as soon as possible, and you can visit our Right to Choose page for the latest information.
Psicon offers Right to Choose autism and ADHD assessments (as well as ADHD treatment) for both children and adults.
- Autism assessments for children (age 3+) – at least one appointment face-to-face
- ADHD assessments for children (age 6+) – face-to-face or online
- Autism assessments for adults – face-to-face or online
- ADHD Assessments for adults – face-to-face or online
- ADHD Medication (only following a Psicon RTC assessment) – face-to-face or online
Face-to-face appointments are offered in Canterbury (Kent) and Basingstoke (Hampshire). Online appointments are dependent on clinical suitability.
May 2025 Update: The current waiting times are below:
- Adult autism and ADHD – approx. 5 months
- Child autism and ADHD – approx. 9-12 months
- Medication – approx. 3-6 months after assessment
Please note that waiting times are subject to change depending on demand and the timely return of all pre-assessment paperwork.
Visit Right to Choose UK | NHS Referral Process | Psicon for more information.
Oakdale offers both NHS Right to Choose and Private ADHD, autism and combined assessments for adults and children. You may be invited to their clinic face-to-face (in either Harrogate, Halifax or Leeds) but you do not need to be local.
May 2025 Update:
Services:
Autism Assessments – Child (from 2 years) and Adult.
ADHD Assessments – Child (from 6 years) and Adult.
ADHD Medication – 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 assessments and ADHD medication.
We have an experienced, multidisciplinary team and each assessment is carefully conducted by qualified practitioners in accordance with NICE guidelines.
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.”
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.
January 2025 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.
May 2025 Update:The current wait list for diagnosis for new adult Autism patients is estimated to be up to 3 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.
