Transferring to Care ADHD on Right to Choose: Your Questions Answered

We receive many enquiries from people who want to transfer to Care ADHD from other providers, often due to extremely long waiting times. Many patients tell us they have been quoted waiting times of 1–2+ years for assessment and another 1–2+ years for treatment, while others report that they have not been given a timeline at all.

Below, we have outlined common scenarios and what you need to know about transferring to Care ADHD under NHS Right to Choose (RTC).

Yes. If you have had private care—either from Care ADHD or another provider—but have not yet accessed NHS-funded ADHD assessment and treatment under Right to Choose, you can still request an RTC referral from your GP.

Under NHS rules, having had private care does not affect your right to NHS treatment. Your GP can refer you to Care ADHD under Right to Choose for a full NHS ADHD care pathway, including assessment and treatment.

For more details on how to do this, please see: Your Right To Choose — CARE ADHD

Care ADHD is happy to accept referrals from people who wish to switch providers, but whether this is possible depends on your GP’s decision.

Under the NHS Right to Choose (RTC) framework, patients in England have the legal right to choose a provider at the point of referral for their entire ADHD care pathway—from assessment and diagnosis to treatment. However, RTC does not typically allow switching providers mid-treatment.

If you have already been diagnosed by another provider under RTC, you cannot usually transfer to Care ADHD for NHS-funded treatment alone. However, there are limited circumstances where your GP may agree to issue a new RTC referral to Care ADHD.

Can I request a new referral to Care ADHD from my GP?

• If your GP determines that your current provider cannot reasonably meet your needs, they may agree to issue a new RTC referral to Care ADHD.

• A valid reason for this might be an exceptionally long waiting time for treatment. If your provider has a large backlog and cannot give you a reasonable timeline for medication initiation, your GP may decide that they are unable to provide an appropriate service.

• Any new referral must be for the full ADHD care pathway, including both assessment and treatment, even if you have already been assessed and diagnosed elsewhere.

If your GP agrees to refer you to Care ADHD in this situation, we would review your existing diagnostic report and carry out a proportionate re-assessment before proceeding with treatment. This ensures safe prescribing and compliance with NHS requirements.

As with Scenario 2, whether you can switch will depend on your GP’s decision. However, if you have not yet started your ADHD assessment, GPs may find it more straightforward to issue a new RTC referral to Care ADHD.

Can I request a new referral?

• If you are on a long waiting list and have not yet been seen by your current provider, your GP may consider referring you to Care ADHD instead.

• As with Scenario 2, your new referral must be for the full ADHD care pathway (assessment and treatment).

Since you have not yet received care from your original provider, your GP may find it easier to justify issuing a new referral under RTC.