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.
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 in this leaflet of some of the choices for you to consider.
Which providers offer Right to Choose assessments?
This list of providers is constantly changing, with new services becoming available and services closing their waiting list, but currently the below clinics are some of the choices available at the time of writing this. When making a choice please do check the clinic is still accepting referrals. 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
- Psicon offer ADHD assessments for patients aged 3 to 18 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 5+
- Evolve Psychology offer ADHD and ASD assessments for patients aged up to 19 only
For more information on ADHD & Right to Choose referrals, the ADHD UK website has some useful information
ASD / ASC / Autism 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 many of the clinics mentioned in this leaflet 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.
Process for requesting a Right to Choose referral from your GP
Choose your clinic
Using the list above, and doing your own research, chose which clinic you would like to be referred to. When making a choice please do check the clinic is still accepting referrals and for your age range.
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 Surgery can advise on.
What happens when I have chosen my clinic?
Once you have chosen which clinic you would like to have your assessment with and completed the relevant forms for that clinic (which you will find on their website), please return the completed forms to the secretary at the Surgery. You can do this in person or by emailing sqs.secretary@nhs.net, confirming which clinic you have chosen. The secretary will then arrange a GP appointment to finalise the referral.
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. A general guide for Right to Choose referrals is that assessments can be in as little as 12 weeks and as long as 18 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.