NHS RIGHT TO CHOOSE

Access Your ADHD Assessment with NHS Right to Choose

As an NHS patient, you have the right to choose your healthcare provider for your first specialist appointment.

Our specialist clinicians are approved to provide ADHD assessments through the NHS Right to Choose pathway.

Current Status: February 2026

Current Waiting List: 6-8 Weeks

We are currently accepting NHS Right to Choose referrals with an approximate 6-8 week waiting list for assessments. Referrals from all areas are accepted normally unless stated otherwise below.

Important: Kent and Medway Referrals

New referrals for patients from the Kent and Medway area are accepted but will be on hold until April when the new Indicative Activity Plan is agreed with the commissioner.

Important: Greater Manchester Referrals

Referrals for patients from the Greater Manchester area are currently paused.

Important: North Central London ICB Area Referrals

The North Central London ICB area (Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, and Islington) has very limited funding remaining. There is no guarantee that your referral will be accepted. We recommend submitting as early as possible.

All Other Regions

Referrals from all other regions are accepted normally.

Please Note

Due to increasing demand, we expect waiting times to grow in the coming months. We recommend submitting your GP referral as soon as possible to secure your place.

Last updated: 18 February 2026

What is NHS Right to Choose?

The NHS Right to Choose allows you to select an alternative provider for your first outpatient appointment, helping you receive care faster.

Your Legal Right

Under the NHS Constitution, you have the right to choose your healthcare provider for your first specialist appointment.

Alternative Access

Choose an alternative provider for your ADHD assessment through the NHS Right to Choose pathway.

No Extra Cost

Your assessment is fully funded by the NHS. No private fees, no hidden costs.

How It Works

Getting your ADHD assessment through NHS Right to Choose is straightforward. Follow these simple steps:

Contact Your GP

Request an ADHD assessment and mention you want to use your NHS Right to Choose to be referred to Innovate ADHD.

GP Sends Referral

Your GP will send a referral letter to Innovate ADHD. You can download our referral form to provide them with our details if needed.

We Contact You

Once we receive your referral, our team will review it as quickly as possible and be in touch as soon as it has been accepted.

Assessment & Diagnosis

Attend your comprehensive ADHD assessment with our specialist clinicians via video consultation. (Or face to face consultation where deemed necessary by your clinician)

Treatment Plan

If diagnosed, we'll work with you and your GP to create a personalised treatment plan including medication if appropriate.

Important Information

•Your GP must send the referral - we cannot accept self-referrals for NHS Right to Choose
•The service is only available for patients registered with an NHS GP in England
•You must be 18 years or older to use this service
•The assessment includes a comprehensive evaluation by our Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)

Ready to Get Started?

Contact your GP today to request your Right to Choose referral to Innovate ADHD.

Referral Form for Your GP

Download our NHS Right to Choose referral form to give to your GP. This form contains all the information your GP needs to refer you to Innovate ADHD.

Adult ADHD RTC Referral Form

Version 1.4 • Microsoft Word Document

✓Pre-filled with Innovate ADHD contact details
✓Includes patient information section
✓Ready to print and complete with your GP

Download Form

How to Use This Form:

Download and print the referral form
Take it to your GP appointment
Discuss your ADHD symptoms and Right to Choose with your GP
Your GP will complete and send the form to Innovate ADHD
Our team will review your referral and be in touch as soon as it has been accepted

Eligibility Criteria

To use NHS Right to Choose for your ADHD assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

✓

Registered with an NHS GP in England

The NHS practice must be in England. Different rules apply for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

✓

GP Agrees to Make Referral

Your General Practitioner has agreed to make a clinically appropriate outpatient referral. Note: The decision to make a referral is the GP's responsibility and separate from Right to Choose. Right to Choose is your right to decide where that referral goes.

✓

First Specialist Appointment

Right to Choose applies to your first outpatient specialist appointment for this condition.

✓

Not Currently Receiving Care

You are not already receiving mental health care following an elective referral for the same condition.

Patients Cannot Use Right to Choose If They Are:

•Already receiving mental health care following an elective referral for the same condition
•Referred to a service commissioned by a local authority (e.g., drug and alcohol service), unless commissioned under a Section 75 agreement
•Accessing urgent or emergency (crisis) care
•Accessing services delivered through a primary care contract
•In high secure psychiatric services
•Detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
•Detained in a secure setting (including those in or on temporary release from prisons, courts, secure children's homes, certain secure training centres, immigration removal centres or young offender institutions)
•Serving as a member of the armed forces (family members in England have the same rights as other residents of England)

What Happens Next?

Once your GP sends the referral, our team will review it as quickly as possible. We will be in touch as soon as your referral has been accepted.

Assessment takes multiple consultations with our Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT).

If diagnosed with ADHD, we'll provide a comprehensive report and work with your GP to establish an ongoing treatment plan including medication if appropriate.

Remember: Assessment and treatment are funded by the NHS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about NHS Right to Choose? Find answers below.

As of 18 February 2026, we currently have an approximate 6-8 week waiting list for NHS Right to Choose referrals. Due to increasing demand, we expect waiting times to grow in the coming months. We recommend asking your GP to submit your referral as soon as possible to secure your assessment appointment.

New referrals for patients from the Kent and Medway area are accepted but will be on hold until April when the new Indicative Activity Plan is agreed with the commissioner. We will resume processing referrals from this area once the agreement is in place.

Referrals for patients from the Greater Manchester area are currently paused. Please check back for updates on when we will resume accepting referrals from this area.

Once your GP sends the referral, our team will review it as quickly as possible. We will be in touch as soon as your referral has been accepted.

GPs are required by law to support your NHS Right to Choose request, as it's your legal right under the NHS Constitution. If you experience any difficulties, we can provide supporting documentation to help your GP understand the process.

The comprehensive ADHD assessment includes a detailed clinical interview with our Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), review of your medical history, symptom evaluation using standardised tools, and collateral information from family members if possible. Assessment takes multiple consultations.

Our assessments are conducted remotely, meaning you can attend from the comfort of your own home with no need to travel. In the rare case that a face-to-face appointment is clinically required, our clinicians will arrange this with you.

Yes. If you're diagnosed with ADHD and medication is deemed appropriate, we'll work with your GP to initiate and manage your medication treatment. We provide a comprehensive treatment plan and ongoing support.

When using NHS Right to Choose, assessment and treatment are funded by the NHS.

Yes. As an NHS provider, any prescriptions issued by Innovate ADHD through Right to Choose are NHS prescriptions and are therefore subject only to standard NHS prescription charges, or exempt if you hold a valid exemption. This applies regardless of whether a shared care agreement is in place with your GP. For more information on NHS prescription charges, please visit the NHS website at nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions/nhs-prescription-charges.

Yes, we do support shared care. However, the decision on whether to accept shared care is up to your GP, as they are not required to do so. If your GP does not accept shared care, we will still be able to continue your prescription. Please also note that as an NHS provider, any prescriptions issued by Innovate ADHD through Right to Choose are NHS prescriptions and are therefore subject only to standard NHS prescription charges, or exempt if you hold a valid exemption. This applies regardless of whether a shared care agreement is in place with your GP.

You can still use Right to Choose even if you've been on an NHS waiting list. Simply ask your GP to redirect your referral to Innovate ADHD using the Right to Choose pathway.

Yes. After diagnosis, we provide a detailed report to you and your GP. We can support the initiation of treatment and provide guidance on medication titration. Long-term care typically transfers back to your GP with our ongoing support as needed.

No. If you have an existing NHS or Right to Choose diagnosis, our clinical team will review your diagnostic report to determine whether you can proceed directly to the titration/medication pathway, or whether a brief clinical review is needed to address any gaps. A full reassessment would not be required.

Yes, but a validation assessment (a shorter clinical review) will be required before treatment can begin. NHS guidance states that a privately funded diagnosis cannot be used to bypass the assessment stage and progress straight to treatment — the diagnosis must be reassessed and confirmed as NICE compliant by the NHS funded service. A full reassessment is not required, but this validation step is mandatory under NHS funding rules before we are able to initiate treatment.

Yes. If your diagnosis was obtained outside the UK, a full reassessment is required regardless of the quality or recency of your overseas diagnosis. This is because NHS diagnostic standards and frameworks may differ from those used in other countries.

If you are transitioning from children's to adult ADHD services, a clinical review will be conducted in line with NICE guidelines. This is a significantly shorter process than a full diagnostic assessment. If clinically appropriate, you will then be placed onto the medication management pathway.

A brief clinical review will be required to confirm your diagnosis against current diagnostic standards (DSM-5 or ICD-11). A full reassessment is not required.

Yes. If you are currently on a waiting list with another provider, you will need to be discharged from that list before your GP can submit a new Right to Choose referral to us. Please raise this with your GP when requesting the referral.

NHS Right to Choose currently only applies to patients registered with NHS GP practices in England. Patients in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have different healthcare systems with their own referral processes.

Still have questions?

Contact our NHS team for more information

Contact NHS Referrals Team

Have questions about NHS Right to Choose or need assistance with your referral? Our dedicated NHS team is here to help.

NHS Referrals Email

For all NHS Right to Choose enquiries

nhsreferrals@secure.innovateadhd.com

For general enquiries (not for NHS patients), please use contact@innovateadhd.com