Right to Choose is a legal right in England to pick which provider carries out your first outpatient appointment when your GP refers you — including for an ADHD assessment. The assessment is still NHS-funded, so you don't pay. What changes is who does it, and often how long you wait (NHS Choice Framework).
It exists because NHS ADHD waits have become extraordinary: the independent ADHD Taskforce reported waits of up to eight years or more for adults in some areas (NHS England Taskforce, 2025).
Where Renvo stands: we are a private clinic, not an NHS Right to Choose provider. Nothing below routes to us, and this guide is here because the information is hard to find and frequently got wrong — not because it sells anything.
Key takeaways
- It's free. Right to Choose is NHS-funded. If a provider asks you to pay, it isn't a Right to Choose referral.
- England only. It doesn't apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland (ADHD UK).
- You still need a GP referral. It changes where the referral goes, not whether you need one.
- Waits vary by area. Some ICBs now cap how quickly providers can accept referrals (South West London ICB).
How to ask your GP, step by step
- Book an appointment and explain why you think an ADHD assessment is appropriate. It helps to bring specific examples of difficulties at work, home and in relationships, and anything you remember from childhood.
- Your GP agrees a referral is appropriate. They don't have to agree, and this is the stage that most often stalls.
- Name a provider that holds an NHS Right to Choose contract for ADHD assessment in England.
- Complete that provider's referral form. Most publish one on their website; you usually fill in your part and your GP completes theirs.
- Your GP sends the referral.
- If you're not offered a choice, raise it with your Integrated Care Board (NHS Choice Framework).
A practical note: GP practices vary enormously in how familiar they are with this. Printing the provider's referral form and the relevant page from your ICB's website, and bringing both, removes most of the friction.
What it does not cover
This is where people most often come unstuck.
- It doesn't apply if you're already being treated for the condition, or if you're using crisis services (NHS Choice Framework).
- It doesn't apply outside England (ADHD UK).
- It doesn't guarantee a short wait. During 2026 some ICBs introduced activity plans limiting how quickly Right to Choose providers can take referrals, so the advantage varies by area and has narrowed in places (South West London ICB).
- It doesn't let you choose a specific clinician — only the provider organisation.
- It isn't a way to skip the GP. Self-referral isn't part of it.
What if your GP says no?
Common, and not always the end of it.
If they say they've never heard of it, that's usually genuine rather than obstructive. The NHS Choice Framework is the document to point to (NHS Choice Framework), and ADHD UK maintains a plain-English explanation and provider list (ADHD UK).
If they don't think an assessment is warranted, that's a clinical judgement rather than an administrative one. Ask what would change their view, and consider bringing a completed symptom record. Our free adult ADHD self-screener produces something you can take with you.
If the practice has a blanket policy against Right to Choose referrals, that's a matter for your ICB, which commissions the service and handles the complaint.
After the assessment: the shared care question
This is the part most guides skip, and it matters more than the waiting time.
If you're diagnosed and medication is recommended, it's usually started and adjusted by the specialist service — a process called titration. Afterwards, prescribing often transfers to your GP under a shared care agreement.
GPs are not obliged to enter one. The BMA describes shared care as a voluntary arrangement that a GP enters only where they have the competence and capacity to take it on (BMA). If your practice declines, prescribing stays with the specialist service, which can mean continuing to travel or wait for appointments.
Worth asking before you choose a provider: what happens if my GP won't take over prescribing?
Right to Choose for autism
The same mechanism applies to autism assessments in England, and many providers offer both. The pathway is identical — a GP referral, naming an NHS-contracted provider.
If you think both might apply, say so at the start. Our guide to ADHD vs autism covers how they differ and overlap, and why assessing one in isolation is how the other gets missed.
Right to Choose vs NHS vs private
| Who pays | Typical wait | Choice of provider | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard NHS | NHS | Often years; up to 8+ in some areas (NHS England, 2025) | Local service only |
| Right to Choose | NHS | Varies by area; often shorter, but narrowing | Any NHS-contracted provider in England |
| Private | You | Usually weeks | Any provider you can pay |
Our guide to getting an adult ADHD diagnosis in the UK compares all three in more detail, including costs.
When to see a GP
See a GP if difficulties with attention, restlessness or impulsivity are affecting your work, relationships or daily life, and have done since childhood (NHS). Only a specialist can diagnose ADHD, after a full assessment (NICE NG87).
If you're having thoughts of harming yourself, call 111 and choose the mental health option, contact your GP urgently, or go to A&E. Samaritans are free on 116 123, any time (NHS).
Honest FAQs
Is Right to Choose free?
Yes. The assessment is NHS-funded, so you pay nothing. If you're being asked to pay, it isn't a Right to Choose referral (NHS Choice Framework).
How long does Right to Choose take for ADHD?
It depends where you live. It has often been faster than the standard NHS route, but some ICBs now limit how quickly providers can accept referrals, so the gap has narrowed in some areas (South West London ICB).
Can I use Right to Choose in Scotland or Wales?
No. It applies in England only (ADHD UK).
Can my GP refuse?
They can decline to refer if they don't think an assessment is clinically appropriate — that's a clinical decision. They shouldn't refuse purely because you've asked for a specific provider; if that happens, your ICB is the route (NHS Choice Framework).
Can I use it if I'm already diagnosed?
Generally no. It doesn't apply where you're already being treated for the condition (NHS Choice Framework).
Will my GP prescribe afterwards?
Possibly, under a shared care agreement — but that's voluntary, and some practices decline. Worth asking your provider what happens if yours does.
Is Renvo a Right to Choose provider?
No. We're a private clinic. This guide exists because the information is genuinely hard to find, not as a route to our service.
