🧭 Guide
Right to Choose ADHD: NHS assessment in England
Short answer
Right to Choose for ADHD is an England-only NHS right that usually lets you choose an eligible provider when your GP refers you for a first specialist appointment. An NHS-funded assessment is not a private purchase: you do not pay a private assessment fee.
What is Right to Choose ADHD?
If you are searching for “ADHD Right to Choose” or “NHS Right to Choose”, this is about choosing where your NHS referral goes. It is not an online diagnosis or a separate type of ADHD assessment. Your GP first considers your symptoms and whether a specialist referral is appropriate.
The NHS says you can ask for an NHS appointment at a clinic, including a private clinic, if it provides ADHD services for the NHS in England. A clinic offering paid ADHD appointments is not automatically eligible. The choice must be for the NHS service you need, not simply any clinic you find online.
Source: NHS: ADHD in adults
Right to Choose ADHD eligibility and exceptions in England
This legal right applies in England. The NHS Choice Framework described here applies to England, not Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland; ask your GP about the arrangements in your own nation. If you live outside England, ask your GP about your local assessment route rather than assuming this guide applies.
The NHS Choice Framework covers people of all ages. For mental health referrals, an eligible service must have an NHS contract for the service needed and be led by a consultant or mental health professional. There are exceptions, including urgent or emergency care and some referrals involving second opinions or existing treatment for the condition. Exclusions depend on the specific referral and circumstances; this is not an exhaustive list. Discuss your circumstances with the person referring you.
Is Right to Choose ADHD free? Do you have to pay?
For an agreed NHS-funded referral, you do not buy the assessment privately. The NHS choices page includes private hospitals that provide NHS services. “Private provider” describes the organisation, not necessarily who pays for your appointment. Be clear that you are asking for its NHS pathway.
Do not book a self-funded appointment assuming it will become an NHS referral later. Before accepting an appointment, ask the provider to confirm that it is NHS-funded. Ask separately what any proposed follow-up involves. This guide does not promise that every service advertised by that provider is included in your referral.
Source: NHS: Your choices in the NHS
GP referral steps for Right to Choose ADHD
1. Prepare for your GP appointment. Write down the difficulties you notice, how they affect work, study or relationships, and what you remember from childhood. You do not need to diagnose yourself. The NHS says the GP will ask about symptoms and their effect on your life.
2. Discuss whether an ADHD referral is appropriate. The GP may consider other possible explanations too. If they decide to refer, say that you would like to discuss Right to Choose. Ask about eligible NHS providers rather than requesting a guaranteed diagnosis or a particular medicine.
3. Compare the available services with your GP. Check that a provider offers the NHS ADHD service you need. Ask the service about its current waiting information and how appointments work. Tell your GP your preference at the referral stage, when the right to choose normally applies.
4. Confirm the referral arrangements. Ask your GP practice what information it needs and how you will know the referral has been sent. Check with the receiving service about next steps. Keep a copy of useful referral correspondence so you can explain clearly what has happened if you need to follow up.
Source: NHS: ADHD in adults
Paperwork for an NHS Right to Choose referral
Ask your GP practice and chosen service which referral information and questionnaires they need. Providers may have different instructions; there is no single Clairemind form that makes a referral. A school report, an informant or a particular screening score is not a universal requirement you must meet before asking your GP for help.
Keep useful examples and referral correspondence together. If childhood reports or someone who can contribute are unavailable, tell the service and ask about alternatives. These are practical preparation suggestions, not additional legal eligibility rules.
ADHD assessment: GP steps and preparation →
Source: NHS: ADHD in adults
How long does Right to Choose ADHD take?
There is no single waiting time to quote for every provider. The NHS adult ADHD page says waiting times vary. It says Right to Choose may help you find a clinic with a shorter waiting list through your GP. “May” matters: it is not a promise that a chosen service will see you sooner.
Choosing a service can feel like a lot to manage when you are already struggling. You could write your questions in one place before contacting the practice. Useful questions include whether the service has received your referral, what happens next and who you should contact about a change in your details. These are practical preparation tips, not extra legal requirements.
Keep the distinction between assessment and treatment in mind when comparing options. A shorter assessment queue does not by itself answer questions about later care. Ask what support the service would discuss if ADHD is diagnosed, and how it communicates with your GP. You can ask for explanations in plain language before making a decision about your referral preference.
Ask the service for its current information rather than relying on old posts or adverts. Ask what the estimate covers, such as an assessment appointment rather than later treatment. This guide gives no guaranteed deadline, waiting-time cap or numerical estimate for ADHD care.
Source: NHS: ADHD in adults
NHS procedures after your ADHD referral
An ADHD specialist, such as a psychiatrist, will assess you. They ask about your symptom history, childhood, education, work, relationships and medical history. They may want to speak to someone who knows you well. A questionnaire result alone cannot establish a diagnosis.
If ADHD is diagnosed, discuss support and treatment with the specialist. Assessment does not mean you must take medication. ADHD medicines must be started and monitored by an ADHD specialist. A GP may take over prescribing only with a shared-care agreement, so do not assume this will happen automatically.
Source: NHS: ADHD in adults
What if I am not offered a choice?
Start by talking to the person referring you. Ask whether the issue is the clinical need for referral, the eligibility of the service, or an exception to the choice rules. These are different questions. Request a clear explanation so you know what to discuss next.
The NHS says you can complain to your integrated care board (ICB) if you still feel you have not been offered a choice. If the ICB cannot resolve the complaint to your satisfaction, you can take it to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. You do not have to work out the whole process alone.
Source: NHS: Your choices in the NHS
❓ Right to Choose ADHD: NHS procedure FAQs
What is Right to Choose ADHD?
It is the usual right in England to choose an eligible NHS provider at referral for a first specialist appointment. It is subject to the NHS choice rules and exceptions.
Is Right to Choose ADHD free?
An appointment arranged as NHS-funded care is not a self-funded private assessment. Confirm that you are being referred to the NHS service, not booking a paid appointment.
Source: NHS: Your choices in the NHS
Can I choose any private ADHD clinic?
No. The service must meet the NHS choice rules, including the relevant NHS contract and clinical requirements. Offering paid appointments alone does not establish eligibility. Confirm the NHS pathway with your GP and the service.
How do I start Right to Choose?
Book a GP appointment about your symptoms. If the GP refers you, discuss your preferred eligible NHS service at that point.
Source: NHS: Your choices in the NHS
Which paperwork does my GP need for the NHS referral?
Ask the practice and chosen service for their current referral instructions. Forms and questionnaires vary. Preparation notes may help, but Clairemind cannot submit the referral and no Clairemind template is required.
Source: NHS: ADHD in adults
How long does Right to Choose ADHD take?
Waiting times vary. The NHS says you may find a shorter waiting list through your GP using Right to Choose, but does not promise a particular wait.
Source: NHS: ADHD in adults
Can I use this in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
This guide describes the NHS Choice Framework for England. If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, ask your GP about the assessment and choice arrangements in your own nation.
Does choosing a provider guarantee an ADHD diagnosis?
No. NICE requires a specialist assessment, including clinical and psychosocial assessment and developmental and psychiatric history. Rating scales alone cannot diagnose ADHD.
Source: NICE NG87: Recommendations
Sources
- NHS: Your choices in the NHS
- NHS: ADHD in adults
- GOV.UK: NHS Choice Framework (England)
- NICE NG87: Recommendations
Last reviewed:
Right to Choose near you
Local NHS policies and provider availability can change. Check the information for your GP's area.