Kelvedon & Feering Health Centre

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ADHD and ASD – Right To Choose

Introduction to Right to Choose referrals

Did you know NHS patients now have a legal right to choose their mental healthcare provider? This important right means that, for instance, should you decide the waiting time for your ADHD or ASD assessment is too long, then you can choose an alternative provider to suit you. This service is offered through the NHS and is free 

Right to Choose within mental health is a relatively new scheme (since 2018) and as such, many patients are not aware of the options.

Process for requesting a Right to Choose referral from your GP

Talk to your GP, have an open and frank conversation about why you think you/your child have ADHD and/or ASD. Talk about any and all mental health concerns you might have. The goal is to help you with your issues and the conversation often will be wider than just the query of ADHD / ASD.

Following that conversation your GP may suggest a referral for an official assessment. You will need to fill in the following forms and give them to the surgery for your referral to be accepted (ADULTS ONLY – Children will be assessed through the service):

Additional Information Questionnaire

Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale

Wender Utah Rating Scale – ADHD

Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ50) – ASD

ADHD and ASD assessments are currently in incredibly high demand and the waiting list in Mid Essex  pathways are extremely long.  Right to Choose will allow you to consider alternative options to avoid waiting so long for a diagnosis and post-diagnostic support.

For all Right to Choose referrals, the patient, or their family if a child, will need to research and select a clinic themselves, it is not something the GP can advise on.

Once you have chosen which clinic you would like to have your assessment with and obtained the relevant forms, please return all the relevant forms to us along with a letter confirming who you have chosen.

Please note that some providers will have their own triage and screening process, please ensure any forms that are required to be completed by/for the patient are also submitted. This will enable us to process the referral efficiently.

Where can I get a Right to Choose assessment?

There are a number of clinics throughout the UK that can offer Right to Choose ADHD and/or ASD assessments. To become a Right to Choose clinic provider, the clinic must supply the same service to the NHS somewhere in England, they cannot be a private only clinic.

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.

This list is non-exhaustive and there may be other clinics you may want to research too.

ADHD Assessment Providers

  • ADHD 360 offer ADHD assessments for patients aged 18 and over only
  • Psychiatry UK offer ADHD and ASD assessments for patients aged 18 and over
  • Dr J & Colleagues offer ADHD and ASD assessments for patients aged 18 and over
  • Clinical Partners offer ADHD and ASD assessments for all patients aged 4+
  • Evolve Psychology offer ADHD and ASD assessments for patients aged up to 19 only
  • Provide Wellbeing offer ADHD assessments for patients aged 18 and over only in MID ESSEX

For more information on ADHD & Right to Choose referrals, the ADHD UK website has some useful information

ASD Assessment Providers

For more information on ASD & Right to Choose referrals, the National Autistic Society website has some useful information

Things to consider about Right to Choose

It is important to note that some of the clinics mentioned can offer diagnosis but are rarely able to offer medication titration. 

This means that you may be able to obtain a diagnosis with the named clinics, but often you will need a local NHS referral should they find that you need to start medication to control your symptoms.

Many patients feel a diagnosis would be enough to request further support / considerations from school or employers and some patients may not require medication for these conditions at all

When can you not use Right to Choose?

There are some restrictions on which patients are eligible for a Right to Choose assessment and the below is a list of the reasons you would not be eligible:

  • You need urgent or emergency treatment – this is often not relevant as there are rarely times when this type of referral is considered urgent, but is still worth noting here
  • You already receive care and treatment for the condition you are seeking an assessment for
  • The organisation or clinical team you’ve chosen does not provide the right care for your condition
  • You are a prisoner or on temporary release from prison
  • You are detained in prescribed accommodation such as a court, secure training centre, immigration removal centre or young offender’s institute
  • You are detained in a secure hospital setting
  • You are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended in 2007)
  • You are a serving member of the armed forces

How much quicker will Right to Choose be?

That depends on which clinic you choose and whether they can offer medication titration, should you need it. Currently, the local waiting times are up to 7 years. A general guide for Right to Choose referrals is that assessments can be in as little as 12 weeks and as long as 12 months, which is much quicker than the NHS alternatives!

If a clinic offers diagnosis but not medication titration, then you will need a further referral for post-diagnostic support.

Unfortunately, this is not something that can be easily avoided as most medications suggested for these conditions are ones that GPs are not allowed to prescribe without the support of a specialist clinic under a Shared Care Agreement.

What if I have more questions?

If you would like to look into this further yourself first, please see below a list of websites and resources to help you on your Right to Choose journey or for general support:

Date published: 13th August, 2024
Date last updated: 13th August, 2024