Does Right to Choose cost anything?

No. It is NHS-funded care delivered by a provider you choose.

How long does Right to Choose take?

There is no stable answer: provider intake and waiting times change. Check current information directly before the referral and again after it is accepted; this guide deliberately does not republish figures that may become misleading.

What is Right to Choose for ADHD assessment?

In England, Right to Choose can let you ask for referral to an alternative NHS-funded provider that meets NHS requirements. Eligibility, provider lists and waiting times change often, so they should be checked at source before you commit.

Can I use Right to Choose in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

No. Right to Choose is a referral route within the NHS in England. If you live elsewhere in the UK, the route to assessment is the local NHS pathway through your GP, or a private assessment — the names, criteria and providers are different.

What if my GP will not refer me through Right to Choose?

A GP still decides whether a referral is clinically appropriate, and a practice can also say the request does not meet the route’s criteria. Those are two different refusals, and it is worth knowing which one you have been given before you try again.

Does Right to Choose cover medication and ongoing prescribing?

Assessment and prescribing are connected but separate. A provider may assess you and, where appropriate, start and stabilise medication; continuing prescriptions afterwards usually depends on a shared-care agreement with your GP practice, which is not automatic.

Getting assessed

Right to Choose for ADHD: the England-only route

Reading time: 6 min
Written for: Adults & parents
Sections: 3

The short answer

Right to Choose is an NHS-funded referral route in England only. If your referral is eligible, you can ask your GP to refer you for a first outpatient ADHD assessment to an eligible provider you choose. It does not apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, it does not guarantee that a referral is clinically appropriate, and provider status and waits must be checked when you apply.

On this page (3 sections)

01Who can use it
02How to use it, step by step
03Known friction points

Who can use it

The route concerns eligible first outpatient referrals through the NHS in England. It is not a route for urgent or emergency care, and availability for adults and children depends on an eligible service accepting the relevant referral.

Your GP still considers whether a referral is clinically appropriate. If the practice says no, ask which part of the referral or eligibility criteria is not met and request the reason in writing; do not assume that choosing an independent provider makes the referral private.

How to use it, step by step

First, check current Right to Choose guidance and confirm that the provider accepts NHS referrals for your age group and assessment type. Download or note its current referral requirements rather than using an old provider list.

Then tell your GP: “I would like to discuss an ADHD assessment and, if a referral is clinically appropriate, I would like to use Right to Choose with this eligible provider.” Give the practice the current referral details and ask it to confirm when the referral has been sent.

Known friction points

Provider eligibility, intake and waiting information can change. We do not rank providers or republish wait times; check the provider and current pathway guidance directly before naming one on a referral.

Assessment and prescribing are connected but separate. If medication follows, ask who initiates and monitors it, what reviews remain with the specialist, and what happens if your GP does not accept a shared-care request.

Work out your route

There are three assessment routes in the UK and two of them are NHS-funded. These tools help you work out which applies to you before you spend anything.

Which route fits me? →

Questions

Common questions

01
Does Right to Choose cost anything?: No. It is NHS-funded care delivered by a provider you choose.
02
How long does Right to Choose take?: There is no stable answer: provider intake and waiting times change. Check current information directly before the referral and again after it is accepted; this guide deliberately does not republish figures that may become misleading.

Reviewed answers

Reviewed questions on this page

What is Right to Choose for ADHD assessment?: In England, Right to Choose can let you ask for referral to an alternative NHS-funded provider that meets NHS requirements. Eligibility, provider lists and waiting times change often, so they should be checked at source before you commit.Do thisCheck the current provider and eligibility information, then ask your GP for a referral naming the provider.What this does not settleRight to Choose applies in England and not everywhere in the UK, and a GP practice may still question or decline a specific request.
Why we say this
UK practical guidance: ADHD UK explains the Right to Choose route, how to use it and what current waits look like. ADHD UK (Practical guidance · UK)ADHD UK (Practical guidance · UK)ADHD UK (Practical guidance · UK)
UK guidance says: Assessment must still be carried out by an appropriately qualified professional. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Clinical guideline · UK)
Can I use Right to Choose in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?: No. Right to Choose is a referral route within the NHS in England. If you live elsewhere in the UK, the route to assessment is the local NHS pathway through your GP, or a private assessment — the names, criteria and providers are different.Do thisCheck your own nation’s NHS ADHD pathway with your GP practice before naming any provider, rather than following England-specific instructions you find online.What this does not settlePathways differ by nation and by area, and we do not publish waiting times or rank providers. Confirm what applies where you live at source.
Why we say this
UK practical guidance: ADHD UK describes Right to Choose as an England route and sets out UK diagnosis pathways more generally. ADHD UK (Practical guidance · UK)ADHD UK (Practical guidance · UK)
UK guidance says: NHS information covers ADHD assessment for adults across services. NHS (Authoritative health information · UK)
What if my GP will not refer me through Right to Choose?: A GP still decides whether a referral is clinically appropriate, and a practice can also say the request does not meet the route’s criteria. Those are two different refusals, and it is worth knowing which one you have been given before you try again.Do thisAsk which specific criterion is not met — clinical appropriateness or referral eligibility — and ask for that reason in writing; then take the current pathway requirements to a follow-up appointment.What this does not settleThis is navigation, not legal advice, and asking again does not guarantee a referral. Choosing an independent provider through this route does not make the care private.
Why we say this
UK practical guidance: ADHD UK explains how the Right to Choose request is made and what practices consider. ADHD UK (Practical guidance · UK)ADHD UK (Practical guidance · UK)
UK guidance says: Assessment must be carried out by an appropriately qualified professional. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Clinical guideline · UK)
Does Right to Choose cover medication and ongoing prescribing?: Assessment and prescribing are connected but separate. A provider may assess you and, where appropriate, start and stabilise medication; continuing prescriptions afterwards usually depends on a shared-care agreement with your GP practice, which is not automatic.Do thisBefore the referral, ask the provider what happens after assessment — who initiates and monitors any medication, which reviews stay with the specialist, and what it does if your practice declines shared care.What this does not settleArrangements vary by provider and practice, and we cannot say whether medication is appropriate for you. Prescribing decisions belong with a qualified prescriber.
Why we say this
UK practical guidance: ADHD UK covers Right to Choose in practice, including shared-care and prescribing questions. ADHD UK (Practical guidance · UK)ADHD UK (Practical guidance · UK)
UK guidance says: UK guidance describes specialist involvement in initiating and reviewing ADHD medication. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Clinical guideline · UK)

See every reviewed question on this topic

Next step

Prepare for a GP conversationDescribe your pattern before the appointmentThe self-check is preparation only — it cannot diagnose anything.

Keep going

Checked against

ADHD in adults
NHS · Authoritative health information · UK
NHS information describing adult ADHD symptoms, onset before age 12, the assessment pathway, GP referral, commonly co-occurring conditions, medication and talking therapies.
Limitations: Describes features and pathways. It does not say why any individual experiences a given difficulty, and it is not a diagnostic tool.
Right to Choose
ADHD UK · Practical guidance · UK
Practical England-only Right to Choose navigation, including provider and pathway context.
Limitations: Operational information that changes. Check the source for current providers and waiting times rather than relying on any figure quoted here.
Right to Choose: learning about NHS Right to Choose
ADHD UK · Practical guidance · UK
Step-by-step practical explanation of Right to Choose, provider choice and shared-care considerations.
Limitations: Practical guidance from a charity, not NHS policy wording.
Right to Choose wait times
ADHD UK · Practical guidance · UK
Current practical waiting-time and provider context for Right to Choose.
Limitations: Waiting times change constantly. We deliberately do not restate figures — follow the link for what is true today.

Provenance

Last reviewed: September 2026
Reviewed by: the ADHD Resources Hub editorial team. Editorial review, not clinical review — no clinician has signed off this page.

This is health information, not medical advice, and it describes the UK system as generally applied. Local pathways vary. Always check current details with your GP or the provider.