NHS Right to Choose wait times and updates

Adult ADHD referrals

If you're 25 or over and live in Coventry and Warwickshire ICB area, please check our service update before requesting an ADHD referral through Right to Choose.

Learn more

Last updated: 5 March 2026

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB has asked us to work within an 'Indicative Activity Plan' for 2026 to 2027. This is a local NHS funding plan that sets how many ADHD and autism assessments we can offer to LLR patients during the year.

What this means if you are already on our waiting list

Your referral is still on our waiting list and your place is protected. Appointments will continue to be offered in referral date order. However, because the ICB has set an activity plan for the year, this may affect how quickly we are able to offer appointments.

What this means if you join the waiting list now

We can accept your referral and add you to the waiting list. Your referral date will be protected, and you will be offered an appointment in referral date order. Depending on demand and the ICB’s activity plan, there may be a longer wait before we can offer an appointment.

We understand that waiting for an assessment can be frustrating or worrying. You may find these local resources helpful:

• ADHD resources

• Autism resources

Last updated: 28 April 2026

Referral process for adult ADHD assessments

From 3 November 2025, South East London ICB has introduced a new Adult ADHD Referrals Triage Service. This applies to adults aged 18 and over who are registered with a GP in Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham, Lambeth or Southwark.

If you would like to use your Right to Choose for an ADHD assessment, please follow these steps:

1. Complete the self-report questionnaire

   Before seeing your GP, complete the ADHD self-report questionnaire for adults (PDF). This helps your GP understand your experiences and symptoms.

2. Book an appointment with your GP

   Bring your completed form to your GP appointment. Your GP will discuss your experiences and how they affect different areas of your life before making a referral.

3. Your GP will send your referral to the SEL Adult ADHD Referrals Triage Service

   All new referrals must now go through this service using the NHS Electronic Referral System (e-RS).

4. The triage team will contact you

   They will review your referral, arrange a short clinical discussion, and explain your NHS and Right to Choose options, including Clinical Partners.

5. If you choose Clinical Partners

   The triage team will forward your referral securely to us so that your assessment can be arranged.

Clinical Partners cannot accept referrals sent directly from GPs in the South East London ICB area. If a referral is sent outside this process, it will need to be returned to your GP so it can be re-submitted following the ICB triage process. If the ICB process is not followed, this may cause a delay.

Last updated: 4 November 2025

Not necessarily. Being able to resume booking does not mean everyone will be booked immediately. We will contact you when we reach your referral date for your assessment type and booking options are available.

The list shows any areas where there are specific instructions that affect referrals or booking. If your area is not shown, it usually means bookings are operating as normal for your referral type. Your referral remains on the Clinical Partners NHS Right to Choose waiting list, and appointments are offered in strict referral date order within the type of assessment needed.

We will contact you when we are able to book patients from your referral date.

We understand it is hard to wait without a clear date. At the moment, we are not able to provide individual booking timeframes by phone or email. The fairest way we can support you is to work through the list in referral date order and contact you as soon as we are able to book patients from your referral date.

ICBs can review local NHS services during the year, and sometimes they may introduce new instructions that affect booking in their area. We cannot predict whether this will happen. If anything changes that affects NHS Right to Choose booking for a specific ICB area or referral type, we will inform patients from that ICB directly and update this page as soon as we can with clear information.

If you didn't receive an email about your ICB being affected by any booking changes, nothing changes about how your referral is managed. Your referral remains on the Clinical Partners NHS Right to Choose waiting list, organised by assessment type and referral date order. This page is here to explain how bookings work and to share any specific ICB instructions if they apply.

When we contact you about booking, our calls may appear as withheld or private number. Please make sure your phone settings allow you to receive these calls. If your contact details have changed, email rtc@clinical-partners.co.uk so we can update them.

We understand it is tempting to ask for a timeframe. At the moment, we are not able to provide individual booking dates, and contacting us will not change your place on the list. The most helpful thing is to wait for us to contact you when booking options are available. If your contact details have changed, please email rtc@clinical-partners.co.uk.

If you need support with your symptoms in the meantime, your GP can help with wellbeing support and signposting while you wait. You may also find the resources on this page helpful, including WaitingWell, the National Autistic Society, and ADHD UK.

If you are worried about your safety, call 999. If you need urgent help, contact NHS 111 or your local urgent mental health service. You can also contact your GP for support.

At Clinical Partners, we’re committed to seeing every patient in the order they were referred. To keep things fair, we manage separate waiting lists for different conditions and age groups — for example, children’s autism assessments or adult ADHD assessments. Your place in the queue is based only on patients referred for the same type of assessment as you.

Several factors can affect how long it takes to be seen. Every neurodevelopmental assessment is different, and some cases are more complex than others. For example, when a person has more than one condition, needs additional investigation, or requires adjustments to support communication and comfort during the process. Because we aim to support all patients, not just those with the simplest needs, the time it takes to complete each assessment can vary. This means that even with a structured booking process, it’s challenging to forecast exact wait times.

As a national partner to the NHS, Clinical Partners has worked closely with Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to support the recent changes in how Right to Choose referrals are managed. Since January 2025, these changes have been significant, rapid, and ongoing, and we’ve been sharing data, insights, and clinical expertise to help shape how services are delivered, always keeping patient needs at the heart of every conversation.

Each ICB is applying the national guidelines at a local level, shaping their approach to meet the needs of their population in line with available funding and resources. This is an evolving process, with regional requirements continuing to change. As a result, national providers like Clinical Partners have had to respond flexibly and quickly. We’re continuing to adapt our services to reflect each ICB’s expectations across different conditions and age groups and at the moment this is leading to some regional variation outside of our control.

Our approach aims to ensure that care is appropriate and aligned with regional needs, but it also adds a level of complexity to how we plan and deliver care across the country. We recognise that this can sometimes affect how long patients wait to be seen. Throughout, we’ve remained committed to being clear and transparent with our patients, so you feel informed, supported, and aware of your choices.

Despite our best efforts to adapt swiftly, the speed, scale and uncertainty of these NHS changes have, in some cases, led to longer waits than expected for our patients. We are doing all we can to manage this while continuing to prioritise fairness, care quality, and communication.

We’ve invested heavily in new systems to monitor referrals, track progress, and make sure every patient is treated with care and accuracy. We remain firmly committed to seeing every patient in the order they were referred as far as we are able to do so under NHS commissioner instructions, and ensuring fairness across all patient groups.

We’ve also increased capacity wherever possible — including expanding our clinical team, improving referral tracking systems, and working closely with ICBs to resolve regional delays. Despite this, there are sometimes individual cases that take longer to move forward, for example, if there are issues with the referral details, or if we’re waiting on confirmation from the ICB. In these instances, we work closely with all involved parties to avoid delays and ensure that no one is left behind.

If your wait time has already passed the initial estimate you were given, please be reassured, this does not mean you’ve been forgotten.

We will contact you as soon as we are able to offer an appointment for your type of assessment. All of our assessments are delivered by specialist clinicians, which means that availability can differ depending on the type of assessment needed. In some cases, one type of assessment may be booked quickly, while others take longer due to capacity.

We’re always monitoring this carefully and doing our best to increase access across all services. However, because of the complexity of this system, we’re not always able to give a new or more specific wait time once you’re already on the list.

We know this waiting period can be frustrating, and we’re sorry that things are taking longer than expected. Please rest assured that your referral is still in progress, and we’ll contact you as soon as we can offer a slot. We’re grateful for your patience, and we’ll continue doing everything we can to get you the support you need.

At the moment, we can’t give an exact timeframe. Like many services across the UK, Clinical Partners has seen a significant increase in referrals. At the same time, the NHS is changing how assessment services are funded and organised in different areas, which has affected how quickly providers like us can move through referrals. We’ll contact you as soon as we can offer an assessment or provide a clearer update on expected timeframes.

We’re not able to give individual queue positions. We are working through referrals in date order and will contact you when it is time to book.

Yes. You can speak to your GP about choosing a different NHS Right to Choose provider. Before deciding, we recommend:

• Checking ADHD UK’s Right to Choose information to see current providers and guidance.

• Contacting providers directly to verify their current wait times and eligibility.

If you choose to be referred to another provider, you will be removed from Clinical Partners’ waiting list. If you return to us later, you will need a new referral and will start again from the beginning.

No, you should not hold multiple NHS referrals for the same assessment. Please discuss options with your GP to avoid delays or duplicate referrals.

No. Our patient support team does not have access to waiting list positions. We will contact you when we can offer an assessment or provide clearer information.

Please update your details by emailing us at rtc@clinical-partners.co.uk. This helps us reach you as soon as we can book your appointment.

Please let us know details by emailing us at rtc@clinical-partners.co.uk and inform your new GP. A change of ICB may affect commissioning arrangements, so it is important we have your current details.

If your personal circumstances change in a way that might affect your ability to attend or the information we hold for you, please let us know by emailing us at rtc@clinical-partners.co.uk. This will not change the referral date order.

Yes. Many types of support are available without a formal diagnosis, including help through schools, local authority services, the NHS and charities. Early support is often linked to better outcomes, and you do not need to wait for an assessment to ask for help.

You do not need to wait for an assessment or diagnosis to seek support. We know waiting for an assessment can be difficult. We understand this may feel frustrating or worrying, and we are committed to making sure you are supported during this time.

• Visit WaitingWell for advice and support for individuals on neurodiversity waiting lists across the UK

• Find out more on about neurodevelopmental conditions on the NHS webpages for ADHD in adults and ADHD in children, and Autism

• The National Autistic Society have an online community and a helpful advice and guidance page

• ADHD UK is a charity run for people with ADHD by people with ADHD

• The Health for Teens website has a broad range of useful health information, including about ADHD and autism. All articles and videos have been developed by trusted NHS school nurses and health and wellbeing experts

• Explore local support groups or charities

• Talk to your GP about self-management strategies, or if you are worried about your or your child’s wellbeing.

If anyone feels in crisis:

• Call 111 for urgent NHS advice

• Call 999 in an emergency

Support for adults:

• Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 for free, confidential text support, available 24/7

• Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, available 24/7

Support for children and young people:

• Childline – call 0800 1111 or use online chat

• Shout – text YM to 85258, available 24/7

• Papyrus HOPELINE247 – call 0800 068 4141 or text 07860 039 967

• The Mix – call 0808 808 4994 or use webchat (under 25s)

We completely understand how frustrating it can feel to wait for an assessment. The time it takes for us to contact you is directly linked to the very high number of referrals we’ve received and the wider NHS changes which are outside of our control.

Because waiting times are the result of these system-wide pressures, we are not investigating individual complaints about delays. We are, however, actively working with the NHS to reduce waiting times wherever possible and to keep patients updated.

If you have experienced something other than a delay (such as a concern about accessibility), please do get in touch. These issues can be reviewed as part of our complaints process, as they relate to service quality rather than the wider NHS waiting-time situation.