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Mental health & neurodiversity

ADHD right-to-choose explained

How the NHS Right to Choose route works for ADHD assessment in England, who qualifies, and how it compares with going fully private.

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Key points

The essentials at a glance.

What to look out for, when to seek help, who assesses and treats it, and the options that work.

  • 01

    Right to Choose lets patients in England ask their GP to refer them to any qualified provider holding an NHS contract, including specialist ADHD services.

  • 02

    It can substantially shorten the wait compared with local NHS ADHD services, though waits at popular providers have grown.

  • 03

    You need a GP referral - the choice is made at the point of referral.

  • 04

    Assessment and any medication titration are NHS-funded under this route; a fully private assessment is faster still for many people.

  • 05

    Whichever route you choose, check the provider offers shared care with your GP for ongoing prescriptions.

Understanding it

What it is, and how to get help.

In plain English - what is going on, and the assessment and treatment routes available in the UK.

Right to Choose is a legal right in NHS England that lets you choose which provider your GP refers you to for a first outpatient appointment, provided the provider holds an NHS contract for that service. For ADHD, this has become a widely used way to bypass very long local waiting lists.

To use it, ask your GP to refer you under Right to Choose to a named provider that accepts such referrals for ADHD assessment. It remains NHS care, so there is no fee, but waits vary by provider and have lengthened as demand has grown. NHS waiting lists for adult ADHD assessment are often extremely long - in many areas they are measured in years. A private assessment with an ADHD specialist can typically be arranged within around two weeks, and in England the Right to Choose route may also shorten the NHS pathway.

A quiet reminder

This guide is for information, not medical advice.

Your GP or mental health professional knows your history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, speak to them.

Published 2026-09-27 · Next review 2027-09-27

Frequently asked

Common questions about ADHD right-to-choose explained.

Quick, plain-English answers to what people ask us most.

  • What is ADHD Right to Choose?

    Right to Choose is an NHS policy that allows patients in England to request referral to a different NHS-funded provider for ADHD assessment, often used to access faster assessment than local waiting lists allow.

  • How does the Right to Choose process work for ADHD?

    Patients ask their GP to refer them to an alternative NHS-commissioned ADHD assessment provider under the Right to Choose policy, which can sometimes offer significantly shorter waiting times than the local service.

  • Is Right to Choose the same as going private for ADHD assessment?

    No, Right to Choose uses NHS funding and remains free at the point of care, whereas going private means paying directly for assessment and treatment outside the NHS system.

  • Are all GPs required to offer a Right to Choose referral?

    GPs should support a Right to Choose request if a suitable NHS-commissioned alternative provider exists, though in practice some GPs are less familiar with the policy or may need clear information about the relevant provider.

  • How long does Right to Choose ADHD assessment take?

    Waiting times vary by provider and demand but can sometimes be considerably shorter than local NHS waiting lists, which in some areas exceed a year; however, times fluctuate and should be checked directly with providers.

  • Are there any downsides to using Right to Choose for ADHD?

    Providers can be based some distance away with assessments conducted remotely, and shared care arrangements for ongoing medication prescribing between the provider and your GP can sometimes be complex to establish.

  • Right to Choose vs standard local NHS referral — what's the difference?

    A standard referral goes to your local NHS ADHD service, often with a long waiting list, while Right to Choose allows you to select an alternative NHS-commissioned provider that may have shorter waiting times, using the same NHS funding.

  • Does Right to Choose apply throughout the UK?

    The Right to Choose policy as commonly described applies in England; arrangements differ in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, where healthcare commissioning and referral pathways are organised differently.

  • What happens after an ADHD diagnosis via Right to Choose?

    Following diagnosis, ongoing prescribing is usually arranged through a shared care agreement between the assessing provider and your GP, allowing continued NHS-funded medication and monitoring locally.

  • When should I consider Right to Choose for ADHD, and how quickly can I be seen privately?

    Consider it if local NHS waiting times are very long; discuss with your GP promptly. As an alternative, private ADHD assessment is often available within about two to four weeks, though it is paid for directly.