Right to Choose

Right to Choose – ADHD and autism patient journey

As an NHS patient, you now have a legal right to choose who looks after your mental health. This important right means that if you decide the waiting time for your ADHD or ASD assessment is too long, you can choose another provider.

Right to Choose scheme

If you wish to be referred under the Right to Choose scheme, you will need to research the various offers and clinics available, make your choice and then let us know where you would like to be referred.  This is not something the GP can advise on; you will need to do your own research. Please see the link to a list of providers under the section, ‘Choose a provider’ below.

There are clinics throughout the UK that can offer Right to Choose ADHD and/or ASD assessments. To be a Right to Choose provider, the clinic must provide the same service to the NHS somewhere in England; they cannot only be a private clinic.

Clinics and services usually have a form or questionnaire for you to complete before we can make the referral.

It is important to note that many clinics can offer a diagnosis but are not able to provide medication titration (this means safely starting, adjusting and managing your medication) 

This means that you may be able to obtain a diagnosis, but often you will need a local NHS referral if they find that you need to start or continue medication to control your symptoms.

You should be aware that our practice does not provide NHS prescriptions unless we have signed a ‘shared care agreement’ with your chosen organisation. All the terms of the agreement need to be in place before we can consider prescribing. This includes:

• Follow-up arrangements e.g. who will check how you are managing on your prescribed medication and / or do any monitoring or tests, and when will these be done
• The organisation needs to be a General Medical Council (GMC) registered provider
• You are stable on the medication

We reserve the right not to prescribe on the NHS for safety reasons. We may also have to discontinue prescribing if the shared care agreement terms can no longer be met by the clinic or service you have chosen, or if you have not attended agreed follow up appointments.

We can refer you to NHS services for prescribing, but you will need to wait your turn on the waiting list.

If you need ongoing medication until you can be seen by an NHS specialist provider, this will need to be on a private prescription, from your chosen private provider.

Process for referral

We will need you to provide the following information before we can arrange a referral:

1. Choose a provider

This needs to be a provider commissioned by an Integrated Care Board (ICB) in England.

Not all services see adults and children, and not all of them provide medication. Please check their website for details.

You can find a list of providers on this website: https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/

The list can change, so please look at the website, and you can do your own research online and see if there are other clinics you prefer.

2. Reason for referral

We need to know if you need an assessment for ADHD, ASD or both, or if you are already diagnosed and need a referral for medication titration, as previously stated, not all providers offer this service.

We will also need a brief description of why you feel an assessment is required.

3. Complete relevant forms from your chosen provider

Please ensure you have completed any sections of the forms that you, as the patient, are asked to complete, and provide us with a copy of these. You can do this by sending a copy via email to mseicb-bb.basildoneastpcn@nhs.net, by bringing the completed forms to the practice, or sending them through your GP practice website’s “Contact us online” link via Accurx for the attention of the practice manager.

If we do not receive the forms, we won’t be able to send a referral.

Waiting times vary depending on provider and you would need to research this before deciding where you would like to be referred.

Questions and answers regarding Right to Choose scheme

Below are some questions and answers regarding the Right to Choose scheme for ADHD and autism.

How much quicker will a ‘Right to Choose’ referral 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 12 months, which is much quicker than the NHS alternatives.

If a clinic offers diagnosis but not medication titration and you have been advised to start medication, then you will need a further NHS referral.

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.

Why would I choose a ‘Right to Choose’ referral if I cannot easily obtain medication that way?

Many patients feel a diagnosis is enough to request further support or considerations from school or employers, and some patients may not require medication for these conditions at all.

When can you not use the Right to Choose scheme?

There are some restrictions on who is eligible for a Right to Choose assessment.

You are not eligible if:

• You need urgent or emergency treatment (this is often not relevant as there are rarely times when this type of referral is considered urgent)
• You already receive care and treatment for the condition you are seeking an assessment for
• The organisation you’ve chosen does not provide the right care for your condition
• You are a prisoner, or on temporary release from prison
• You are detained in prescribed accommodation such as a court, secure training centre, immigration removal centre, or young offenders’ institute
• You are detained in a secure hospital setting
• You are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended in 2007)
• You are a serving member of the armed forces

What if I have more questions?

If you would like to look into this further, or have more questions regarding the scheme, please see below a list of websites and resources to help you on your Right to Choose journey.

Information on ADHD:

• AHD UKD: A charity offering free advice and information on ADHD and Right to Choose referrals.
• ADHD Foundation: The UK’s leading neurodiversity charity, offering services for those who live with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, DCD, Dyscalculia, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome and more.
• NHS Website
• Mind: ADHD and mental health

Information on ASD:

• National Autistic Society: offers support and advice for autistic people in the UK and their families.
• Autism Speaks: Autism Speaks is dedicated to creating an inclusive world for all individuals with autism throughout their lifespan.
• NHS Website
• Mind: Autism and mental health