Right to Choose: everything you need to know

Right to Choose is a government initiative that allows adults in England to access NHS-funded ADHD assessments and treatment through a choice of providers. This scheme enables you to choose a provider that best suits your needs, offering greater flexibility and control over your care. 

If you are diagnosed with ADHD and would like medication, the Right to Choose scheme ensures that you are not restricted to your local NHS trust and can access services from alternative, approved providers. 

Right to Choose services are funded by the NHS, so there are no additional costs to you for the assessment or titration provided under this scheme. However, you will be liable for NHS prescription charges (currently £9.90 per item) unless you are eligible for free NHS prescriptions. 

Under the Right to Choose scheme, eligible adults can request an ADHD assessment, titration, and medication from a range of NHS-funded providers, including both NHS services and private organisations like ours. You can choose the provider based on location, waiting times, or other factors important to you. 

When you ask your GP to refer you for an ADHD assessment, they will discuss all of your options and ask you which provider you’d like to be referred to. They can only refer you to approved organisations who have a contract with the NHS, such as CARE ADHD. You can then choose where you would like to receive your assessment and any subsequent treatment. 

• Access to ADHD assessments with a specialist team: You can be assessed for ADHD by a private provider, at no cost to you. 

• Titration and medication: If ADHD is diagnosed, you may be prescribed medication. The process of finding the right medication and dose for your needs is called titration. Under Right to Choose you will not be charged for the titration pathway. However, you may be liable for NHS prescription charges (currently £9.90 per item) unless you are eligible for free NHS prescriptions. 

• No waiting lists: Some private providers, including CARE ADHD, offer faster access to assessments and treatments compared to traditional NHS waiting lists. 

1. Check your eligibility: You must be registered with a GP in England and require a referral for a specialist service, such as an ADHD assessment. 

2. Referral: Speak to your GP about your symptoms and request a referral under the Right to Choose scheme. They will provide you with the relevant paperwork and a list of approved providers. You can download a letter and referral form for your GP from the NHS Right to Choose page on our website. 

3. Choice of provider: Inform your GP of your preferred provider (e.g., CARE ADHD). The provider must be approved by the NHS and regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). 

4. Process: Your GP will send the referral directly to the provider you’ve chosen. From there, the provider will contact you to begin the assessment and/pr treatment process.  

Note: In many cases you will have the option to change providers if the provider you were originally referred to no longer meets your needs (for example, if their waiting list is too long and another provider can support you more quickly). Please contact your GP to discuss this. 

To be eligible for an assessment or titration with us through Right to Choose, you must: 

• Be aged 18 or over. 

• Be a resident of England. 

• Have a referral from your GP for an ADHD assessment. 

Please note that we do not currently offer assessments or treatment for anyone under 18, but this is a service we aim to provide in the future. 

At the Centre for ADHD Research and Excellence, we are dedicated to providing professional, timely, and accessible ADHD assessments and treatment. We are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and follow NICE guidelines to ensure your care meets the highest standards. Our Chair is Professor Tim Kendall, who was National Clinical Director for NHS England until 2024, and facilitated the development of the first ever national clinical guideline for ADHD. 

If you have any questions about how Right to Choose works or how to get started with an ADHD assessment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.