NHS Right to Choose is a general right, in England only, to choose the provider you are referred to. How far it covers an adult ADHD assessment depends on the provider and on your local NHS area, and the practical catch is usually what happens with medication afterwards. This page is time-sensitive. Capping and provider availability change, so check the current position before relying on it.
The NHS Choice Framework, quoted in our guide to autism assessment in England and Ireland, says that if you are referred to a mental health professional you can decide which provider you receive care from, and that the right only applies at the point of referral and only to providers with an NHS contract for the service. It does not mention ADHD or autism by name. Whether a given assessment service is available through it depends on how that service is commissioned, which is why the picture differs between areas.
The right does not apply in some circumstances, including crisis or urgent care, detention under the Mental Health Act, prison, or serving in the armed forces. It does not apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, which have their own arrangements.
ADHD UK and ADHD Aware, two UK charities, describe the usual steps. You discuss your reasons for suspecting ADHD with your GP, who may ask for a screening form and then refers you to a provider that holds an NHS contract for adult ADHD assessment. Many providers have a referral form for the GP to complete. The assessment is NHS-funded, and standard NHS prescription charges apply to any medication. Check the provider's waiting time with them directly; the figures we found on charity pages were dated, so we do not quote any.
If you are diagnosed and want NHS medication, the provider normally starts it and adjusts the dose. NICE (NG87, recommendation 1.7.29) says that once the dose is stable, prescribing and monitoring can move to your GP under a shared care protocol. A GP can decline to do this. ADHD UK says many do, and that providers differ on whether they will keep prescribing if shared care is refused. Ask both your GP and the provider about this before you are referred, not after.
ADHD UK, a charity that campaigns against it, reports that some NHS areas have begun limiting Right to Choose referrals since summer 2025, and says its area-by-area figures change as areas respond. We have not independently verified those figures. Check with your own integrated care board.
A GP can decline a referral if they do not think it is clinically right for you. If you are refused, you can ask for the reason, ask another GP at the practice, or change practice, though a new GP would still need to agree to refer and to shared care. Our guides to the wait in the UK and what happens at an assessment (adult ADHD assessment) may help.
Right to Choose does not apply in Ireland. See adult ADHD in Ireland: what the wait actually looks like.
The right's wording is taken from the NHS Choice Framework as quoted in our autism assessment guide. Shared care is from NICE NG87 recommendation 1.7.29. The steps, prescription charges and capping come from ADHD UK (page last modified 6 October 2026) and ADHD Aware, both charities, and have not been checked against NHS England guidance. We did not use clinic websites as sources. Review this page every three months. Last checked 25 October 2026. This article describes how assessment services work. It is general information, not medical advice, and it cannot assess your individual situation. It has not yet been clinically reviewed.