Who's eligible · How to ask your GP · What changed in 2026
NHS Right to Choose lets people in England choose which qualified provider carries out their NHS-funded ADHD assessment, instead of being limited to their local service. If your GP agrees a referral is appropriate, you can ask to be referred to any provider that holds an NHS contract for ADHD assessment, and the assessment is free. In 2026 many local NHS areas cap how many assessments each provider can do, so waits vary, and Right to Choose applies in England only.
Right to Choose is a legal right in England, set out in the NHS Constitution and the NHS Choice Framework (opens in a new tab). When your GP refers you for a first outpatient appointment with a consultant-led team, including many mental health services, you can choose which qualified provider you are referred to rather than only your local NHS service.
The provider must hold an NHS Standard Contract for the service you need. Your care is funded by the NHS, so there is no charge to you for the assessment.
Yes. If your GP agrees that an ADHD assessment referral is clinically appropriate, you can usually use Right to Choose to pick a provider that offers NHS-funded ADHD assessments (opens in a new tab). Many people look into it because local NHS ADHD waiting lists can run to several years.
Right to Choose can also apply to children and young people. In that case a parent or carer usually makes the choice with the GP.
The legal right has not been removed, but access has become less predictable. Under the 2026/27 NHS Payment Scheme (opens in a new tab) and NHS Standard Contract, local Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) can agree an Indicative Activity Plan with each Right to Choose provider. This sets how many assessments the provider is funded to deliver in the year.
In practice this means a provider may accept your referral and add you to its list, but delay your appointment once it reaches its local limit. Several areas, including parts of Surrey, have used these limits. Some areas have also added local steps, such as a triage service that referrals must pass through first.
Before you see your GP: check the provider's current waiting time for your area. Your ICB is based on your GP practice's address, not your home address.
You can usually use Right to Choose for an ADHD assessment if:
Right to Choose does not apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Check that it holds an NHS contract for ADHD assessment, accepts referrals from your area and what its current wait is.
Explain your symptoms and how they affect your work, relationships and daily life.
If your GP agrees a referral is appropriate, say you want to use your NHS Right to Choose and name your chosen provider.
Many providers have a referral form or pack for GPs.
The referral is usually sent through the NHS e-Referral Service or the provider's own form.
It depends on the provider and your area. Right to Choose is often quicker than a local NHS list, but it does not guarantee a short wait, and local activity limits can add months. Always ask the provider for its current expected wait for patients from your ICB before your GP makes the referral.
If you are diagnosed, what happens next depends on the provider. Some offer follow-up support and, where appropriate, start ADHD medication and adjust the dose (titration). Once you are stable, your GP is usually asked to take over prescribing under a shared care agreement.
GPs are not obliged to accept shared care, and practices differ. Ask your GP about their shared-care approach before you are referred, so you know how medication will work later.
| Feature | NHS Right to Choose | Private assessment at Premier Private GP |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of assessment | Free (NHS-funded) | From £995 online, or £1,500 face to face in Bagshot |
| GP referral needed? | Yes | No, you book directly |
| Wait | Varies by provider and area; local limits apply | Not on an NHS waiting list; written report within 7–14 days of your assessment |
| Choice of provider | Any provider with an NHS contract for ADHD assessment | Yes |
| Medication | NHS prescriptions; ongoing prescribing usually via GP shared care | If appropriate, we can start and titrate medication ourselves |
Book your assessment directly.
Assessed by secure video or at our CQC-registered clinic.
Delivered within 7–14 days of your assessment.
We are a private service and do not currently accept NHS Right to Choose referrals.
Explore our private adult ADHD assessment, from £995.
Yes. The assessment is NHS-funded with no charge to you. If you are prescribed ADHD medication afterwards, standard NHS prescription charges apply in England unless you are exempt.
Yes, if you are registered with a GP in England, your GP agrees a referral is clinically appropriate and the provider holds an NHS contract for ADHD assessment.
No. The legal right still exists, but since 2026 many local NHS areas limit how many assessments each provider is funded to carry out. This can mean longer waits even after your referral is accepted, so check the provider's current wait for your area first.
It varies by provider and area, from a few weeks to many months where local limits apply. Ask the provider for its current wait for your ICB before you are referred.
It can. If the provider offers treatment, it may start and adjust your medication, then ask your GP to continue prescribing under a shared care agreement. GPs can decline shared care, so check your practice's approach early.
Your GP can decline if they don't think an ADHD assessment referral is clinically appropriate. If they agree a referral is needed, you have a legal right to choose an eligible provider. If you think your choice has been refused wrongly, ask the practice to explain, then contact your local ICB's patient advice team.
No. Right to Choose applies in England only.
Dr Muddassar Ahmed is the founder and lead clinician at Premier Private GP. He reviews our health guides to make sure they are accurate, clear and up to date.
This guide is for general information and does not replace advice from your own GP. Right to Choose rules and local limits can change; check with your GP and chosen provider before you are referred.
