Right to Choose is a legal right under the NHS Act 2006 that lets you choose a faster, NHS-funded ADHD assessment provider.
Yes, you can skip the multi-year NHS ADHD waiting list. Right to Choose lets you request a referral to an approved provider like Psychiatry-UK and get assessed in weeks, not years. It is completely free - the NHS pays.
Right to Choose is a legal right established under Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006. It applies in England and gives you the power to choose which NHS-funded provider carries out your ADHD assessment, rather than being automatically placed on your local waiting list.
In practice, this means you can ask your GP to refer you to a specialist ADHD provider - such as Psychiatry-UK, ADHD 360, or Clinical Partners - instead of waiting years for your local NHS service to see you. The referral is still NHS-funded. You do not pay anything. You are simply exercising your right to choose where you receive care.
Most people who are told they face a 3, 5, or even 7-year wait for an ADHD assessment do not know this option exists. Right to Choose does not skip any clinical steps. It redirects your referral to a provider that can see you sooner, while the NHS covers the cost.
The process is straightforward once you know the steps. Here is exactly what to do, from start to finish.
Start by completing an ASRS (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale) screening. This is a widely used checklist that helps identify whether your symptoms are consistent with ADHD. Keep a symptom journal for at least two weeks, noting specific examples of inattention, impulsivity, disorganisation, or emotional dysregulation. The more evidence you bring, the stronger your case.
Request a double appointment if your practice allows it. A standard 10-minute slot is not enough for this conversation. Prepare specific examples of how your symptoms affect your daily life - at work, at home, in relationships, and in managing everyday tasks. Bring your completed ASRS screening and symptom journal.
Before your appointment, research which NHS-funded providers accept Right to Choose referrals for ADHD. The most commonly used providers include Psychiatry-UK, ADHD 360, and Clinical Partners. Check their current waiting times, what the assessment process involves, and whether they provide medication titration after diagnosis.
Ask your GP to submit the referral to your chosen provider. Make sure you get confirmation that the referral has been sent. Ask for a reference number or written confirmation. Follow up within two weeks if you have not heard from the provider. Do not assume silence means progress.
Once accepted, you will be given an assessment date. The assessment is thorough and typically involves a detailed clinical interview, symptom history review, and diagnostic evaluation. If you receive a diagnosis, the provider can initiate medication and create a shared care plan with your GP for ongoing prescriptions.
Right to Choose for ADHD assessment is available if you meet the following criteria:
Important: Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have separate NHS systems. If you live outside England, check your local health board for ADHD assessment pathways and waiting times.
Not every GP is familiar with Right to Choose, and some may resist the request. Here are the most common responses and how to handle them.
Right to Choose is a legal right under the NHS Act 2006. It is not a practice policy that can be opted out of. Every GP practice in England is required to offer it when a patient requests a referral to an NHS-funded provider.
There is no clinical requirement to complete therapy before being referred for an ADHD assessment. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, not a behavioural issue that therapy resolves. Assessment and therapy can happen in parallel, but one is not a prerequisite for the other.
Diagnosis is the specialist's job, not the GP's. Many adults with ADHD have spent years developing coping strategies that mask their symptoms in short interactions. A GP appointment is not a diagnostic assessment. Your role is to request the referral. The specialist determines the diagnosis.
The NHS Constitution states that patients should wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment. If your local ADHD service has a waiting time exceeding 18 weeks, you are well within your rights to request a Right to Choose referral to a provider with shorter wait times.
Understanding your options at a glance. All three routes lead to a valid ADHD diagnosis, but the cost, waiting time, and process differ significantly.
| Route | Cost | Wait Time | Provider | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHS Local | Free | 2-7 years | Assigned by your area | Standard referral |
| Right to Choose | Free | 8-20 weeks | You choose | Section 75, NHS Act 2006 |
| Private | 500 - 3,000+ | 1-4 weeks | You choose | None (self-fund) |
Knowing the process is one thing. Avoiding the pitfalls is another. These are the mistakes that delay people most often.
If you ask your GP for a "Right to Choose referral" without naming a provider, they may not know where to send it. Always arrive with a specific provider name, their referral process, and ideally a direct link to their Right to Choose page.
Referrals can get lost, delayed, or stuck in admin queues. Always ask for written confirmation that the referral has been submitted. If you have not heard from the provider within two weeks, chase it up directly.
This is the biggest barrier of all. Millions of adults are sitting on NHS waiting lists right now without knowing they have a legal right to be seen sooner. If you are reading this, you are already ahead.
Your GP's role is to agree that a referral is appropriate and to submit it. They do not decide whether you have ADHD, which provider you use, or whether Right to Choose applies. You have agency in this process.
Yes. Parents and legal guardians can request a Right to Choose referral for children and young people under 18. The same legal basis applies - Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006 does not have an age restriction.
The process is the same: the parent requests a referral from the GP, names a specific NHS-funded provider that assesses children, and the GP submits the referral. Many of the providers that accept adult Right to Choose referrals also have dedicated children and young people's services.
Waiting times for children's ADHD assessments on the NHS can be just as long as adult waits, sometimes longer. If your child is struggling at school, with friendships, or with emotional regulation, Right to Choose can significantly reduce the time to assessment.
The My ADHD Path Navigator helps you figure out where you are in the process and what to do next.
Start the Free NavigatorA GP can decline to make a referral if they do not believe an ADHD assessment is clinically appropriate. However, they cannot refuse to honour Right to Choose itself. If they agree a referral is warranted, you have the legal right to choose your provider. If they refuse without a clear clinical reason, you can see a different GP, request the refusal in writing, or escalate through the practice manager or NHS England.
No. Right to Choose is fully NHS-funded. You do not pay for the referral, the assessment, or the diagnosis. If medication is prescribed, it follows standard NHS prescription charges (or is free if you have an exemption certificate). Any provider asking you to pay upfront for an NHS Right to Choose assessment is not operating within the correct framework.
From the point your GP submits the referral, most Right to Choose providers see patients within 8 to 20 weeks. Some have shorter waits, some longer, and this changes over time as demand fluctuates. The key difference is that this is weeks, not the years you would face on most local NHS waiting lists.
The most widely used providers include Psychiatry-UK, ADHD 360, and Clinical Partners. Other providers also accept Right to Choose referrals. Check each provider's website for current availability, waiting times, and their specific referral process. Availability can change, so verify before your GP appointment.
No. Right to Choose under the NHS Act 2006 applies in England only. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each have their own NHS systems and referral pathways. If you live outside England, contact your local health board to understand your options for ADHD assessment.
A private ADHD diagnosis is still valid and can be shared with your GP. However, many GPs require an NHS assessment before they will prescribe medication on the NHS. If you have a private diagnosis and want NHS-funded treatment, you may need to ask your GP to either accept the private diagnosis (some will) or arrange a confirmatory NHS assessment, which Right to Choose can help speed up.
In most cases, switching provider mid-assessment is difficult and may mean starting over. If you are unhappy with your current provider, contact them directly to discuss your concerns first. If the issue cannot be resolved, speak to your GP about a new referral. It is better to research providers thoroughly before the referral is submitted.
You have the legal right to skip the waiting list. Now you need the tools to actually do it. My ADHD Path gives you step-by-step guidance, and ADHD Next Step helps you figure out what comes after diagnosis.