Understanding Your Right to Choose for ADHD
If you've been waiting months — or even years — for an NHS ADHD assessment, you may have heard about something called the Right to Choose. It's a legal right that could significantly reduce your waiting time, and it's available to anyone registered with an NHS GP in England.
What is the Right to Choose?
The Right to Choose is part of the NHS Constitution. It gives patients the legal right to choose which organisation provides their first outpatient appointment, as long as the provider is qualified and has a contract with the NHS. In practice, this means you can ask your GP to refer you to an approved provider outside your local NHS trust.
For ADHD assessments specifically, this has been a game-changer. While some NHS trusts have waiting lists stretching beyond two years, Right to Choose providers can often see patients within a matter of weeks or months.
How does it work?
The process is relatively straightforward:
- Speak to your GP. Tell them you'd like an ADHD assessment and that you want to exercise your Right to Choose.
- Name a provider. You'll need to tell your GP which Right to Choose provider you'd like to be referred to. You can find approved providers in our directory.
- Your GP sends the referral. The GP writes a referral letter to your chosen provider. The provider then contacts you to arrange your assessment.
- Assessment and follow-up. If you're diagnosed, your chosen provider will work with your GP on a shared care agreement for ongoing treatment.
Important things to know
The Right to Choose applies in England only — it doesn't currently extend to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Your GP cannot refuse a Right to Choose referral, though some may be unfamiliar with the process. If you encounter resistance, it can help to bring printed information about the policy.
It's also worth noting that while the assessment itself is funded by the NHS, not all follow-up care may be covered under the same arrangement. Always check with the provider about what's included.
Finding the right provider
We're building Neurosplore to make finding a Right to Choose provider as easy as possible. You can filter our directory by 'Right to Choose' status to see which providers accept NHS RTC referrals in your area.