Whether your provider is too slow, not responding, or just not right - you have options.
Yes, you can switch ADHD providers in most cases. If you are on a Right to Choose pathway, you can request your GP re-refers you to a different provider. If you are with a private provider, you can transfer your records. The process varies depending on where you are in your assessment journey.
Switching providers is a significant step, and it may add time to your journey. But sometimes staying with the wrong provider costs you more time than switching would. Here are the common signals.
You have been referred but heard nothing. Emails go unanswered. Phone lines are constantly engaged. Weeks turn into months with no communication.
You were told 3 months. It has been 6. The estimated wait keeps getting pushed back with no clear explanation or updated timeline.
When you do hear from them, the information is unclear, contradictory, or unhelpful. You feel like you are chasing constantly just to get basic updates.
Your assessment has been cancelled or rescheduled multiple times. Each cancellation resets your wait and erodes your confidence in the provider.
If you are on a Right to Choose pathway and want to change providers, here is the process step by step.
Let them know you intend to withdraw from their service. Ask for written confirmation that your referral has been closed. Some providers will do this by email. Keep a record of the communication.
Research alternative Right to Choose providers. Compare current wait times, communication reputation, and whether they cover your area. Check provider websites directly or ask in ADHD support communities for recent experiences.
Book an appointment or send a message to your GP explaining that you want to switch providers. Provide the new provider's name and referral details. Your GP will need to submit a fresh referral to the new provider.
Follow up with both your GP and the new provider to confirm the referral has been received and accepted. Do not assume it has gone through. Get written confirmation.
Switching providers means starting a new referral. Your position in the previous provider's queue does not transfer. The new provider's wait time starts from the date they receive your referral, not from your original referral date.
If you started with a private provider and want to move to an NHS pathway, this is possible but comes with some complications.
If you have had a private assessment or screening, those records can be shared with your GP and used as supporting evidence for an NHS referral. Your GP may use private findings to strengthen the case for a Right to Choose referral or a local NHS assessment.
If you were diagnosed privately and want your GP to take over medication prescribing (shared care), your GP is not obligated to agree. Some GPs accept shared care readily. Others refuse. If your GP will not enter a shared care agreement, switching to an NHS or Right to Choose assessment may be your best route to NHS-funded medication.
Some NHS services will not accept a private diagnosis at face value. They may require their own assessment before prescribing. This varies by ICB and by individual clinician. Ask your GP what your local NHS service requires.
This is one of the most common switches. You were referred to your local NHS ADHD service, the wait is years long, and you now want to use Right to Choose to get assessed sooner.
Contact your local NHS ADHD service and ask for your current position on the waiting list and the estimated wait time. Get this in writing if possible. This information strengthens your Right to Choose request.
Research providers, compare wait times, and select one that accepts referrals from your area. Have their details ready when you speak to your GP.
Tell your GP you want to exercise your Right to Choose. If your local wait exceeds 18 weeks (it almost certainly does), you are legally entitled to choose an alternative NHS-funded provider. Your GP submits the new referral.
In most cases, you do not need to formally cancel your NHS referral first. Your GP can submit the Right to Choose referral alongside your existing NHS one. However, once you are accepted by the RTC provider, you may want to withdraw from the NHS list to avoid confusion.
If you withdraw from a provider's waiting list, your place is not held. A new referral to a different provider starts a fresh queue. This is the main trade-off when switching.
However, if your current provider's wait is significantly longer than the new provider's, switching still saves time overall. The maths is straightforward: compare the remaining wait with your current provider against the total wait with the new one.
Some providers may be able to transfer your referral information to another provider, which can speed up the intake process with the new service. But this is not standard practice. Always confirm with both providers what information can be shared.
Switching means starting a new referral, which takes time. If the new provider has a short wait, you may still be seen sooner than if you had stayed. If the new provider has a similar wait, switching could add weeks or months.
The key question is: how much longer will you wait if you stay versus if you switch? If your current provider has gone silent, keeps rescheduling, or has a wait that keeps growing, staying may cost you more time than moving.
Before switching, contact the new provider and ask for their current estimated wait time for new referrals. Compare that to your remaining estimated wait with your current provider. Make the decision based on the numbers, not frustration alone.
Technically, yes. You can have an NHS referral and a Right to Choose referral active simultaneously. However, once you are accepted for assessment by one provider, it is good practice to withdraw from the other to avoid duplicate assessments and potential confusion in your records.
You need your GP to submit the new referral, so their cooperation is necessary. However, you do not need their permission to withdraw from a current provider. If your GP is reluctant to re-refer, remind them of your Right to Choose under Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006.
No. Medical records do not transfer automatically between ADHD providers. Your GP holds your core NHS record, which the new provider can access through the referral. Any assessments, forms, or correspondence from your previous provider would need to be requested separately or re-submitted.
Yes, but this is a different process. After diagnosis, switching usually involves transferring your medication management. If you were diagnosed by a Right to Choose provider, your GP should have a shared care agreement in place. If you want a different provider to manage your ongoing care, speak to your GP about re-referral for medication management.
Check wait times before committing. If all Right to Choose providers have long waits, you may want to consider whether staying with your current provider is actually the fastest route. Alternatively, a private assessment (paid out of pocket) can be completed in days to weeks, though it typically costs between 500 and 2,000.
Switching providers, understanding your rights, preparing for assessment. My ADHD Path walks you through the entire process so you never feel lost.