Right to Choose for ADHD: how it works in England
What Right to Choose is, who can use it, how to ask your GP for it, and why availability now varies so much between areas.
If you're an adult in England waiting for an ADHD assessment, you have probably heard of Right to Choose. It can mean an NHS-funded assessment with a different provider from your local service. Here is how it works, who can use it, and what to expect.
To be clear from the start: Kavana is a private clinic and does not provide Right to Choose assessments. We have written this because it's one of the most common questions adults ask, and everyone deserves a clear answer.
What Right to Choose is
In England, most patients have a legal right to choose which provider they're referred to for a first appointment with a consultant-led team, when a referral is clinically appropriate. The rules are set out in the NHS Choice Framework.
For ADHD, this means your GP can refer you to an independent provider instead of your local NHS service, as long as that provider holds an NHS contract to assess adult ADHD. The assessment is still NHS-funded, so you do not pay.
Who can use it
- You live in England and are registered with a GP in England. It does not apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
- Your GP agrees a referral for an ADHD assessment is appropriate.
- The provider you choose has an NHS contract for that service.
You cannot refer yourself. The referral has to come from your GP (or another clinician who can refer).
How to ask your GP
- Pick a provider. Look for providers that say they accept Right to Choose referrals for adults, and check their current waiting times and whether they're taking referrals from your area.
- Book an appointment with your GP. Explain why you want an assessment, using real examples from now and childhood.
- Ask for a referral to your chosen provider under Right to Choose. Some providers have a form for your GP to complete. Bringing it with you saves time.
- Keep a copy of everything and note the date the referral was sent.
If your GP is unsure, it's fine to say that you understand you have a right to choose your provider under the NHS Choice Framework, and ask them to check the local process.
Why availability now varies so much
Right to Choose is a legal right, but in practice it has become much patchier. Some areas have added approval steps, limited which providers GPs can refer to, or encouraged referrals to local services first. Some providers have limits on how many NHS assessments they can carry out each year, and some have paused new referrals from certain areas.
This means the same provider might have a short wait in one area and not be accepting referrals from another. Always check the provider's current position for where you live before your GP appointment.
What happens after a Right to Choose diagnosis
If you're diagnosed and want to try medication, the provider usually starts treatment and adjusts it over several weeks (this is called titration). Once you're settled, they normally ask your GP to take over prescribing under a shared care agreement. Waits for titration can be separate from, and sometimes longer than, waits for assessment, so ask about both.
Common questions
Is a Right to Choose assessment as good as a local NHS one? It should meet the same national standards. Ask the same questions you would ask anyone: who assesses you, who confirms the diagnosis and what they see, and what the report includes. Our guide to what happens in an adult ADHD assessment lists what to look for.
Can I stay on my local NHS list while I use Right to Choose? Ask your GP how your local service handles this. Practice differs between areas.
Can I go private while I wait? Yes. Many people do. Tell your GP, and think about what happens after the diagnosis, especially who will prescribe. See shared care explained.
What if I need help urgently? Right to Choose is for routine assessments. If you're struggling with your mental health now, speak to your GP, call 111, or in an emergency call 999.
This article is general information about NHS choice rules in England as we understand them in 2026. It is not medical or legal advice. Local processes change, so check with your GP and the provider.