Right to Choose for ADHD: Can You Use It in England?

Yes, if you live in England and your GP agrees that an ADHD assessment referral is appropriate, you may be able to use the NHS Right to Choose pathway to select an eligible provider rather than your local NHS service. The pathway applies to certain NHS referrals, not to every private ADHD clinic, and the provider must accept the type of referral you need.

Book an appointment with your GP and explain the difficulties you’re experiencing, when they began, and how they affect work, study, relationships, or daily life. If you have a provider in mind, ask whether your GP can refer you to that provider through Right to Choose and what information the referral requires.

Check the product’s listed specifications when evaluating what should you do first.

Ask the provider whether it accepts NHS Right to Choose ADHD referrals for someone in your age group, what its current process involves, and how it handles follow-up after an assessment. If medication may be relevant, ask who would manage prescribing and ongoing reviews, since an assessment referral does not automatically settle those arrangements with your GP.

Right to Choose is an NHS England patient-choice pathway, so you should not assume the same route is available if you live in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. Wherever you live, your GP can help you identify the local referral options and explain what happens next if an ADHD assessment is appropriate.

Our How to Choose the Right Pet Shampoo digital guide is about bathing and grooming dogs and cats, not ADHD referrals. We want you to have the right starting point for your question, so our team recommends discussing assessment routes with your GP rather than using a pet-care guide for medical decisions.