0203 761 7029

Right to Choose (NHS England)

If you are a registered NHS patient in England and your GP refers you for specialist treatment, such as an ADHD or autism assessment, you have the legal right to choose an appropriate healthcare provider.

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What Right to Choose services do we provide?

We provide ADHD assessments and titration and autism assessments for children aged five and above, young people, and adults. All assessments are conducted online via a secure video link.

Please note that we are not currently accepting new referrals for ADHD assessments for children and young people, but we hope to resume the service soon.

 

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nhs right to choose

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Our waiting time for new referrals is 30 to 44 weeks (seven to ten months)

This is for new referrals and those received after 1st April 2024. If your GP submitted your referral before then, we will contact you soon. We kindly ask that you wait to be contacted by a member of our team.

Referral form for GPs

Our quick form simplifies the referral process and must be completed by a GP or an appropriate professional at an NHS surgery in England. All information will be handled securely and only used for clinical purposes.


Please ensure you have the patient's completed self-report questionnaire, NHS number, and contact details ready.

Make a referral

How does Right to Choose work?

We're working hard to make things easier for patients and healthcare professionals to book ADHD and autism assessments via Right to Choose.

1

Complete the relevant self-report questionnaire

Please ensure you complete the correct form. You can complete it online or print it and complete by hand. We cannot accept any referral without the relevant completed questionnaire, so please ensure your GP has this ready to upload to our secure form.

  1. Autism self-report for children aged 5-11
  2. Autism self-report for young people aged 12 - 15
  3. Autism self-report for adults (aged 16 and over)
  4. ADHD self-report for adults

2

Speak to your local GP

Book and attend an appointment with your GP to discuss the suspected condition. Make sure to take your completed self-report questionnaire with you.

3

Ask to be referred to Clinical Partners

If your GP thinks an assessment is appropriate, ask to be referred to Clinical Partners under Right to Choose.

4

Your GP completes and submits our secure online form

Ask your GP to complete our online form below. All information will be handled securely and only used for clinical purposes. If your referral is accepted, we will contact you to arrange an appointment. If there are any issues with your referral, we will notify your GP at our earliest convenience.

5

We review your referral for suitability

If you meet the criteria for an assessment, we will add you to our waiting list. Once we have an available date, we will call you on the number your GP provided to arrange an appointment.

Why choose Clinical Partners?

With over 200 Autism and ADHD specialists, we are one of the UK's leading providers of ADHD and autism assessments.

  • Over 800 autism assessments delivered each month
  • All assessments follow NICE guidelines
  • All assessments are delivered by qualified, specialist clinicians
  • Over 300 ADHD assessments delivered each month
  • Waiting times are typically shorter than NHS waiting times 
  • We are an NHS registered provider

camhs adhd treatment

What is Right to Choose?

The NHS Choice Framework gives all NHS patients in England the legal right to choose the service or hospital that provides their physical and mental health care. For example, if a GP refers someone for an ADHD or an autism assessment, in most cases, that person can choose the provider that best suits their needs.

Ewa downie

For many people, a diagnosis as an adult is a sign of recognition, helping them understand their feelings, moods, and behaviours. Once diagnosed, we can introduce various techniques to manage challenges, which is why an assessment is so important.

Dr Ewa Downie

Consultant Psychiatrist


There are many complexities and questions surrounding Right to Choose. Don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

FAQs

Our waiting time for new referrals is 30 weeks (seven months). This is for new referrals and those received after 1st January 2024. If your GP submitted your referral before then, we will contact you soon. We kindly ask that you wait to be contacted by a member of our team.

Yes, we hold NHS standard contracts across England to provide NHS Right to Choose autism assessments to adults, children, and young people, and ADHD assessments to adults.

Yes, as long as your GP agrees to change the referral to a Right to Choose ADHD assessment or Right to Choose autism assessment. If you would like to do this, please get in touch with us on 020 3761 7029, or email [email protected]

If your GP surgery is registered in England and your GP needs to refer you to a consultant or specialist in mental health, you have the legal right to choose your mental health service provider.

However, you do not have the right to choose if:

  • You require emergency treatment
  • You are currently serving a prison sentence, or if you're on temporary release
  • You are detained in prescribed accommodation
  • You serve in the armed forces
  • You have already received care and treatment for the condition
  • You are detained in a secure hospital environment
  • You are detained in a hospital under the Mental Health Act of 1983

We currently offer Right to Choose autism assessments for adults, children, and young people, and ADHD assessments to adults.

To check on the status of a Right to Choose referral, please email [email protected] with your name and the details of your GP. We will investigate and respond to you in due course.

Please use our referral form for all Right to Choose referrals. For anything else, please email [email protected]

Many GPs are not aware of Right to Choose yet. The NHS has published a helpful framework that explains everything they need to know. Try sharing this link with them so they are fully informed: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-choice-framework

Right to Choose is a legal right. If you're not offered a choice at the point of referral, ask your doctor why and say you wish to go explore your options.

You will have a feedback appointment where your clinician will discuss the assessment outcome and their clinical decisions. You will then receive your clinical report, which can also be sent to your GP.

Yes. If you receive an ADHD diagnosis and medication is suggested for you, we offer a titration service for adults and titration service for children and young people.

For more detailed information about your rights and choices within the NHS, please visit the NHS website: Your Choices in the NHS.

If you have further questions or need additional information about your Right to Choose, you can email the Your Choice Team at [email protected]. They are available to help you understand your options and guide you through the process.

Your local ICB can also provide further information and assistance. They oversee the planning and commissioning of healthcare services in your area and can help ensure you receive the care you need. Click here to find the contact details for your local ICB.