ADHD and ASD assessment – Right To Choose

Right to Choose referral for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Condition (ASD)

If you are based in England under the NHS you now have a legal right to choose your mental healthcare provider and your choice of mental healthcare team, this includes for referrals relating to Autism and ADHD assessment. This service is offered through the NHS and is free.

Who can offer Right to Choose assessments?

There are a number of clinics throughout the UK that can offer Right to Choose ADHD and/or ASD assessments.

You have the legal right to choose which service provider and clinical team you are referred to for your first appointment with any Integrated Care Board (ICB) or NHS England for the required service to supply the service to the NHS somewhere in England.

The provider’s website is usually a good place to start to find out if they offer the service you need and we have compiled a list of some of the choices for you to consider. Generally, wait times under a Right to Choose referral are shorter than local NHS services. To find out current wait times, you can ask our secretaries or contact the providers directly.

Which providers offer Right to Choose assessments?

This list of providers is constantly changing but currently the below clinics are some of the choices available as at the time of creating this page. You will need to choose a provider, fill in there online form and then bring that form to one of the surgeries. The Secretarial team will then send the referral.

Right to Choose providers for ADHD: Adults

Right to Choose providers for ADHD: Children and Young People

Right to Choose providers for ASD: Adults

Right to Choose providers for ASD: Children and Young People

You do not have a legal right to choose if:

  • You need urgent or emergency treatment
  • You already receive care and treatment for the condition
  • The organisation or clinical team you’ve chosen does not provide the right care for your condition
  • You’re a prisoner or on temporary release from prison
  • You’re detained in prescribed accommodation, such as a court, secure children’s home, secure training centre, immigration removal centre or young offender institution
  • You’re detained in a secure hospital setting
  • You’re a serving member of the armed forces
  • You’re detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Prescriptions for ADHD:

If you are diagnosed with ADHD the Right to Chose provider may suggest medications for you. The medications for ADHD are restricted so that GPs cannot routinely prescribe them. The specialist service is responsible for prescribing them. They can request that your GP prescribes them under an agreement called a ‘shared care agreement’. Sometimes, we are not able to enter into this agreement for reasons of patient safety and resources. 

Information on ADHD

Information on ASD