NHS Funded · England Only · Last updated August 2026
Right to Choose: Free NHS ADHD Assessments
Get a faster, NHS-funded ADHD assessment at a private clinic of your choice — completely free. Here is everything you need to know to use the scheme successfully.
What is Right to Choose for ADHD?
Right to Choose (RtC) is an NHS policy in England that allows you to choose which provider assesses and treats your ADHD — including private clinics that hold NHS contracts. This means you can access faster ADHD assessments that are fully NHS-funded (free to you), rather than waiting through your local NHS trust or paying privately.
The scheme was introduced in 2018 and is specifically designed to reduce waiting times by letting patients access alternative providers while still using NHS funding.
Available in
England only
Cost to you
Free — NHS pays the clinic directly
Requires
GP referral
Medication after diagnosis
NHS prescription charges (£9.90)
Typical wait
Varies by provider
Patient status
You remain an NHS patient throughout
Who is eligible?
You can use Right to Choose if you meet all of the following:
You are registered with a GP in England
You must be registered with an English GP practice at the time of referral, assessment, and treatment.
You need an ADHD assessment or treatment
This applies to both adults (18+) and children, though some providers only accept adult referrals.
Your GP agrees a referral is appropriate
Your GP cannot refuse solely because you want to use Right to Choose, but can decline if they do not believe an ADHD assessment is clinically warranted.
The provider you choose has an NHS contract
The provider must be a "qualified provider" with active NHS contracts. Our verified list below is updated monthly.
You are NOT eligible if:
- ✕You live in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland
- ✕You are not registered with a GP in England
- ✕You have already been assessed and diagnosed privately (you may still access titration via RtC in some cases — check with providers)
Step-by-step guide
Check your symptoms
Complete the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) before your GP appointment. Adults should use the ASRS; parents/carers of children should note specific examples of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity at home and school.
Book a GP appointment
Request a GP appointment specifically to discuss ADHD assessment and Right to Choose. Bring your completed ASRS, examples of how symptoms affect your daily life, school reports if available, and notes on how long symptoms have been present.
Request Right to Choose referral
At your appointment, state clearly: "I would like to use my Right to Choose to be referred to [Provider Name] for an ADHD assessment." Your GP must agree a referral is clinically appropriate, then send it directly to your chosen provider.
After the referral is sent
The provider reviews your referral (2–10 weeks), contacts you to set up an account, sends pre-assessment questionnaires, then schedules your assessment appointment. The assessment itself is typically 60–90 minutes by video call.
If your GP refuses
- Ask for their refusal in writing with clinical justification
- Request a second opinion from another GP at your practice
- Contact your local Integrated Care Board (ICB)
- File a complaint through NHS England or PALS
Not sure what to say to your GP in the first place? See our guide on how to ask for an ADHD referral.
GP referral letter template
Many GPs appreciate receiving a written request. Customise this template with your details and your chosen provider before your appointment or send it via the practice online system.
Verified Right to Choose providers
Updated from live database · 22 providers listed
| Provider | Location | Wait |
|---|---|---|
| Innovate ADHD HQ | London, EC2A 4EG | ~1w |
| Clinical Partners Birmingham | Birmingham, B1 1BD | ~2w |
| Clinical Partners Nottingham | Nottingham, NG2 5BB | ~2w |
| ProblemShared | Online | ~2w |
| Clinical Partners Leicester | Leicester, LE7 9QB | ~2w |
| Clinical Partners Sheffield | Sheffield, S10 5TZ | ~2w |
| Harley Street Mental Health | London, W1G 9PF | ~2w |
| Xyla Health | Online | ~2w |
| Clinical Partners London Wimpole | London, W1G 9ST | ~2w |
| Clinical Partners Liverpool | Liverpool, L1 9AR | ~2w |
| Clinical Partners Manchester | Manchester, M20 3QD | ~2w |
| Clinical Partners Leeds | Leeds, LS16 7AP | ~2w |
| Clinical Partners Bristol | Bristol, BS8 4HG | ~2w |
| Attention to Health | Bristol, BS9 4PN | ~3w |
| CARE ADHD | London | ~4w |
| Harrow Health ADHD | London | ~5w |
| Psicon ADHD | London | ~5w |
| ADHD Direct | London | ~8w |
| Psychiatry-UK | Online | ~8w |
| ADHD 360 | Online | ~8w |
| Skylight Psychiatry | London | ~10w |
| Evolve Psychology Exeter | Exeter, EX1 | — |
Wait times change frequently. Always confirm directly with the provider.
Right to Choose vs private assessment
See our full ADHD assessment cost guide for a detailed breakdown of private prices, or our NHS waiting times guide to understand how long the standard NHS route takes in your region.
| Feature | Right to Choose | Private assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free (NHS-funded) | Varies by provider; see the cost guide |
| Wait time | Varies by provider | Varies by provider |
| Assessment quality | NICE guidelines | NICE guidelines |
| Ongoing medication | NHS prescription (£9.90) | Private, or shared care |
| Eligibility | English GP registration required | Anyone can book directly |
Choose Right to Choose if:
- ✓Waits vary by provider
- ✓You want zero upfront cost
- ✓You want NHS prescription costs long-term
- ✓You meet eligibility criteria
Choose private if:
- →You need assessment within weeks
- →You live outside England
- →Your GP refuses RtC without valid reason
- →Symptoms severely impact work or life now
Local NHS vs Right to Choose wait times
Latest region-wide NHS adult estimates in our data. Each row shows its source and date.
| Region | Estimated NHS wait |
|---|---|
| London | 7–12 months |
| South East | 8–14 months |
| South West | 8–22 months |
| East of England | 5–10 months |
| West Midlands | 7–12 months |
| East Midlands | 5–10 months |
| North West | 9–11 months |
| Yorkshire | 6–11 months |
| North East | 7–8 months |
For current wait times by area, including Right to Choose providers, see our live NHS wait times tracker.
Tips to speed up your assessment
You cannot skip the queue, but you can avoid common delays:
Respond quickly to all emails and SMS
Providers have tight timeframes. Missing a message can delay your assessment by weeks.
Submit pre-assessment forms promptly
Complete and return all requested questionnaires within the deadline given.
Gather school reports early
Providers often request childhood school reports as evidence of early-onset symptoms. Start searching for these as soon as you receive your referral.
Keep your contact details updated
If you change phone number or email, inform the provider immediately — missed messages are one of the most common causes of delay.
Do not miss your assessment appointment
Rescheduling can push you back significantly. Be available for your allocated slot.
Alternatives if Right to Choose does not work
Private ADHD assessment
Paid directly; prices are in our cost guide. You can later move to NHS shared care for prescriptions.
See our cost guide →Local NHS referral
Free, but waits vary widely by area and can be long. Full NHS care including medication if diagnosed.
Change GP practice
If your GP refuses RtC without valid clinical reason, you can register with a different practice. Some practices are more supportive of Right to Choose.
Contact your ICB
Integrated Care Boards can intervene if GPs incorrectly refuse RtC. File a complaint if you believe your rights are being denied.
Common questions
Can my GP refuse to refer me for Right to Choose?
Your GP can decline a referral if they believe an ADHD assessment is not clinically appropriate. However, they cannot refuse solely because you want to use Right to Choose or prefer a different provider. If your GP refuses without valid clinical reasons, ask for their refusal in writing, request a second opinion, or contact your local Integrated Care Board (ICB).
How long do Right to Choose ADHD assessments take?
Wait times vary by provider, and demand fluctuates. Check directly with each provider for current estimates before you choose.
What if I move house during the waiting period?
If you move and register with a new GP in England, you can usually continue with your RtC assessment — inform the provider of your new GP details. If you move out of England (to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, or abroad), you will no longer be eligible and your referral will be cancelled.
Can children use Right to Choose?
Yes, but not all RtC providers accept child referrals. Check the provider list below for those offering child/adolescent ADHD assessments. Some providers have minimum age requirements (e.g. 6+ or 12+).
Do I still need to see my GP for medication after diagnosis?
After diagnosis, your GP will usually prescribe ADHD medication under 'shared care'. The specialist recommends the medication and dose; your GP writes NHS prescriptions; you pay standard NHS prescription charges (£9.90 per item, or free if exempt). Your GP must agree to shared care — ask about their policy before starting RtC.
If your GP agrees, use our shared care request letter template to formally ask them to take over prescribing.
What happens if I am not diagnosed with ADHD?
You will receive a detailed report explaining the decision. The clinician may suggest alternative explanations for your symptoms or recommend further assessment for other conditions. You will not be charged — the assessment remains NHS-funded regardless of outcome.
Can I use Right to Choose for medication titration only?
Some providers accept titration-only referrals for people already diagnosed privately. Policies vary — ask your GP to check with your preferred RtC provider before requesting this type of referral.
What about the ADHD medication shortage?
The UK has experienced ongoing ADHD medication shortages since 2023. Some methylphenidate brands remain intermittently unavailable. Pharmacies may substitute alternative brands or formulations. Titration appointment wait times may also be longer due to supply constraints. Generic versions are clinically equivalent to branded medications.
Summary: is Right to Choose right for you?
Right to Choose is best if:
- ✓Waits vary by provider
- ✓You want a completely free assessment
- ✓You are registered with an English GP
- ✓You want NHS prescription costs after diagnosis (£9.90 per item)
Consider private if:
- →You need assessment within weeks
- →You live outside England
- →Symptoms severely affect work or daily life and can't wait
- →Your GP refuses RtC without valid clinical reason
Your next steps:
- Complete the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS)
- Book a GP appointment and explain you want to use Right to Choose
- Choose a provider from our verified list above
- Use the template letter to request your referral
- Respond promptly to all provider communications
For GPs: actioning a Right to Choose request
If a patient asks to be referred under NHS Right to Choose to a named ADHD provider, this is a legal right under the NHS Choice Framework, not a discretionary favour — patients registered with an English GP can ask to be referred to any qualified provider that offers the service on NHS terms. No ICB pre-approval is needed before making the referral, since providers who accept Right to Choose referrals already hold an NHS standard contract to do so.
In practice this means: write a standard referral letter to the patient's chosen provider, as you would for any other specialist referral, naming the provider the patient has requested. There's no special RTC-specific form. If you have a genuine clinical reason to think the referral isn't appropriate, you can discuss this with the patient — but a referral shouldn't be declined simply because the process is unfamiliar or because of local ADHD service pressures.
Patients may bring a link to this page, or our template referral letter above, to their appointment. Some ICBs have temporarily paused new RTC bookings with specific providers due to capacity — if a provider the patient has named isn't currently accepting referrals, our verified provider list reflects current availability.
This guide was last updated August 2026. Right to Choose policies and provider wait times change frequently — always verify current information directly with providers and your GP. This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.