Right to Choose update: Adult ADHD referrals in Coventry and Warwickshire

Clinical Partners are currently unable to accept new adult ADHD referrals through Right to Choose for patients aged 25 and over in the Coventry and Warwickshire area. This follows a local NHS policy change, and this page will help you understand what’s changing and what it means for your care.

What's changing and why?

Due to changes notified to us by Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), we have placed a pause on accepting new NHS ADHD referrals for individuals aged 25 and over who live in Coventry or Warwickshire.

This follows a temporary policy introduced by the ICB, which affects who they are funding for ADHD assessments under the NHS Right to Choose pathway.

From 1 June 2025, Coventry and Warwickshire ICB will only fund ADHD assessments for people under the age of 25 at the time of referral. This decision is part of a wider effort to reduce long waiting times for children and young people which are currently double those of adults.

Clinical Partners is currently reviewing the implications of Coventry and Warwickshire ICB’s policy to fully understand how it may affect patients. At this time, we are continuing to accept ADHD referrals for children and young people under 25 in the area. However, we are monitoring the situation closely and will update this page if anything changes.

This change:

  • Does not affect people referred before 1 June 2025
  • Does not affect those already in the middle of an ADHD assessment or receiving treatment
  • Does not affect referrals for autism assessments
  • Does not currently affect referrals for those under the age of 25 at the time of referral

Who is affected

You may be affected if:

  • You live in Coventry or Warwickshire
  • You are aged 25 or over
  • You were planning to be referred to Clinical Partners for an NHS ADHD assessment through Right to Choose
  • Your referral was made on or after 1 June 2025

If this applies to you, your referral cannot currently be accepted unless the policy changes.

What happens if you were already referred

If your referral to Clinical Partners was received before 1 June 2025, it should not be affected — we intend to continue with your assessment and support as planned. We’re currently working with the ICB to gain confirmation that funding will remain in place for all patients already on the waiting list. If there are any updates, we’ll update this page and contact any patients affected directly.

If you are already partway through an ADHD assessment or are in the process of medication titration, your care will also continue as normal.

Autism assessments are not affected

This policy change only applies to ADHD referrals. If you are being referred for an autism assessment, or for both autism and ADHD, we can still support you with the autism assessment.

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Further information

You can read the full statement from Coventry and Warwickshire ICB on their website, which includes a link to their impact assessment.

Coventry and Warwickshire ICB ADHD Policy Update

FAQs

Coventry and Warwickshire ICB has made this decision to focus available NHS resources on children and young people, who are often waiting longest and they believe may benefit most from early support.

While Clinical Partners is still accepting referrals for patients under 25, we are reviewing the policy and its impact on all patients living in Coventry and Warwickshire. We will keep this page updated if our position changes.

This is a temporary policy introduced by Coventry and Warwickshire ICB while they work on improving local ADHD services. They’ve said they are developing a new care pathway that aims to better support people of all ages.

You can read more about this on the Coventry and Warwickshire ICB website.

If we received your referral before 1 June 2025, we will be able to go ahead with your ADHD assessment. If you're unsure whether your referral made it to us in time, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll confirm this for you.

We can still proceed with your autism assessment, as this is not affected by the recent policy change. However, you will need to return to your GP to discuss any possible next steps regarding the ADHD assessment.

No, if you were referred before 1 June or are already receiving ADHD support from Clinical Partners, your care will continue as planned.

We are obliged to follow the latest guidance issued by Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), which states that new NHS ADHD referrals for adults aged 25 and over will no longer be funded under Right to Choose.

This policy was introduced by Coventry and Warwickshire ICB. Clinical Partners is reviewing the implications of this change and seeking clarification to ensure we understand the full impact on patients. In line with the ICB’s policy, we must temporarily pause new adult ADHD referrals for patients aged 25 and over from this area to comply with the ICB’s position. We will continue to keep patients informed.

At the time, the recent changes apply only to patients registered with a GP in Coventry or Warwickshire ICB area, where the local NHS (ICB) has introduced a temporary pause on funding new adult ADHD referrals.

In other parts of England, different NHS ICBs may still fund ADHD assessments through the Right to Choose pathway. As a national provider, Clinical Partners is able to accept referrals from those areas, as long as they meet local NHS eligibility.

You can read the full statement from Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) on their website. It explains why this temporary policy has been introduced and outlines their plans for improving ADHD services in the region.

If you have questions about your referral options or would like to talk through local support, we recommend speaking to your GP surgery. They’ll be able to guide you on next steps and explore any alternative routes available in your area.

You may also find support and guidance from national ADHD organisations:

If you believe your referral to Clinical Partners was made before 1 June 2025, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll confirm your status as quickly as we can.

 

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