If you live in England, you may be able to get an ADHD assessment through NHS Right to Choose instead of paying privately. Here’s how the two routes compare, so you can decide what’s right for you.
What is NHS Right to Choose?
Right to Choose is part of the NHS Choice Framework in England. When your GP refers you to a consultant-led mental health service for a first appointment, you have the right to choose any provider that has a suitable NHS contract. Some of those providers offer ADHD assessments by video.
The NHS pays for the assessment, and for any treatment that provider offers under the same referral.
Who can use it?
- People registered with a GP in England. It doesn’t apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
- Adults, and in many areas children and young people too
- People whose GP agrees that a referral is appropriate
- People who aren’t already being seen by an NHS ADHD service for the same condition
Recent changes
Since 2025, some integrated care boards (the NHS bodies that plan local services) have set limits on how many Right to Choose ADHD assessments they will pay for each year. When a provider reaches its limit, new patients can wait until the next financial year. Waits that were quoted as weeks have become months in some areas.
Ask your GP practice how Right to Choose works where you live, and check each provider’s current waiting times before you choose.
How the routes compare
| What | Right to Choose | Private |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of assessment | Free | You pay (ours is £895 for adults) |
| Waiting time | Varies by provider and area, from months to over a year | Usually short. Ours is currently 2 to 4 weeks |
| Where | England only | Anywhere in the UK, by video |
| Choice of clinician | Limited | You can often choose who you see |
| Medication during titration | Paid for by the NHS | Private prescriptions, which you pay for |
| Shared care with your GP | Often smoother, as it’s an NHS referral | Up to your GP and local policy |
| Flexibility | Appointment times set by the provider | More choice of dates and times |
How to ask for a Right to Choose referral
- Find a provider that offers ADHD assessments under Right to Choose and accepts patients from your area
- Book a GP appointment and say you’d like a referral for an ADHD assessment under Right to Choose, naming the provider
- Your GP may ask you to fill in a short screening questionnaire first
- If your GP agrees, they send the referral. The provider then contacts you
If your GP is unsure, the NHS Choice Framework sets out your rights. You can ask the practice manager, or contact your integrated care board.
Can I do both?
Some people stay on an NHS list while paying for a private assessment. If you do, tell both services. A private diagnosis may change how the NHS service handles your referral, so ask them first.
When private may suit you better
- You live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
- Waits in your area are long, or your GP won’t make a Right to Choose referral
- You want to choose your clinician or appointment times
- You want treatment to start quickly after diagnosis
ADHD Health is a private clinic. We don’t currently take NHS Right to Choose referrals. If you’re not sure which route is right for you, book a free call and we’ll give you honest advice, even if that means suggesting the NHS.