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Right to choose ADHD
How to get an NHS Assessment via ‘Right to Choose’
Who Can Assess ADHD in the UK?
If you are an adult in the UK, the only people who can formally assess you for ADHD are:
–A Psychiatrist: a medical doctor who has specialised in psychiatry and is able to prescribe ADHD medication.
– A specialist ADHD Nurse: a qualified nurse with additional accreditation in assessing ADHD. Depending on their qualifications, they may also be able to prescribe ADHD medication.
–A Psychologist: Psychologists can assess someone for ADHD, but they are not qualified to prescribe medication.
GPs and other mental health professionals such as counsellors, cannot provide a formal diagnosis of ADHD.
Step 1- Check if you are eligible for ‘Right to Choose’
To go through the ‘Right to Choose’ pathway, you must be based in England and be eligible to access an assessment through the NHS. You can read more about eligibility here.
Patients cannot use Right to Choose if 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 e.g. 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.
If you are eligible, this means that you have the legal right to choose which mental healthcare provider you want to be referred to for assessment and treatment. This means that if you decide the waiting time for your ADHD assessment is too long, then you can choose another provider.
Right to Choose Providers
The largest provider of Right to Choose ADHD assessments. Their assessments are mostly done by video call and titration for medication is also done remotely. Psychiatry UK provides details on Right To Choose, including a downloadable letter to give your GP.
May 2023: Assessment wait time: 6 months. Medication wait time following assessment: 3-6 months.
Provide both Right to Choose and Private ADHD Assessments. They do not currently have capacity to meet the demand for their services, and they discuss this in a video on their site here.
May 2023 Update: Currently taking bookings for Winter 2024.
Provide both Right to Choose and Private ADHD Assessments for adults and children, although Right To Choose is not currently signposted on their website. It is recommended that you call and ask whether they provide treatment on the NHS following assessment.
May 2023: Not currently accepting new NHS referrals.
Provides ADHD assessments through Right to Choose in only 4 areas: Kent and Medway (adults), Isle of Wight and North East Hampshire (children aged 6-18 only). They offer diagnosis only through RTC, they don’t provide titration services for medication through the NHS.
May 2023: Current wait time for an Adult assessment (adult): 2-3 months. Wait time for children aged 6-11: 10-12 months.
Provide ADHD, Autism and combined assessment through Right to Choose for children and young people in education, up to age 19. They do not have a Right to Choose service for adults, although they do have a private service. They accept referrals for people throughout England. In person appointments are preferred, but they may offer online assessments depending on individual circumstances.
May 2023: Due to high demand, they are only able to take referrals for 0-19 years olds.
Before booking an assessment, you should ask your provider:
-Their current waiting times for diagnosis.
-If they have a contract with your ICS.
-If they offer treatment following an ADHD assessment.
-What their treatments are (usually medication or CBT therapy).
-If you will be able to access their treatment through the NHS.