Right to Choose

Right to Choose request pack: everything for the referral, in one printable

To get an NHS Right to Choose ADHD assessment in England you need four things in order: confirm you are eligible (registered with a GP in England, routine first referral, not already on an NHS pathway for ADHD), choose a provider with an NHS contract and an open list, hand your GP a clear written request naming that provider, and then track the referral through triage, questionnaires and assessment. This free pack puts all four steps in one printable document. Information only, not medical advice: your GP and the provider confirm eligibility.

Information only, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. Right to Choose is an England-only right. The legal basis is NHS England's Choice Framework and NHS guidance on choosing where you are treated (checked 23 June 2026); your GP and the chosen provider confirm eligibility.

This pack extends the GP letter template (the letter here is identical) with the checks before it and the timeline after it. Everything in the download is reproduced below.

Step 1: eligibility checklist

• You are registered with a GP in England (the right does not apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland)
• This would be a routine (non-urgent) first referral for ADHD assessment
• You are not already on an active NHS pathway for ADHD assessment with another provider
• You are not being referred through certain excluded routes (for example some urgent or specialised pathways; the GP will know)

Unsure on any of these? The Right to Choose eligibility checker walks you through it interactively.

Step 2: choose a provider

• Pick a provider that currently accepts Right to Choose ADHD referrals and has an open list
• Check whether the provider has its own referral form for your GP; many do, and it speeds things up
• Vet the provider against our provider comparison and checklist (qualifications, regulation, total aftercare costs)
• Check whether Right to Choose ADHD referrals are paused in your area

Step 3: the GP letter

Replace anything in square brackets with your own details, then print it, email it, or hand it in at the practice. Keep a copy. The same letter, with a spoken script and filling-in guidance, is on the GP letter template page.

Dear Dr [GP surname],

I am writing to request a referral for an adult ADHD assessment under my NHS Right to Choose rights.

I understand that, as a patient in England registered with this practice, I have a legal right to choose which provider I am referred to for a first routine outpatient appointment, including an ADHD assessment, where the provider holds an NHS standard contract for that service.

I would like to be referred to [provider name], which offers NHS ADHD assessments under Right to Choose. [If the provider has a referral form, add: The provider has a referral form, which I have attached / can forward to the practice.]

For reference, the difficulties I experience include [briefly note 2 to 3 examples, for example: long-standing problems with focus and attention, organisation, and restlessness that affect my work and daily life]. These have been present for a long time and affect more than one area of my life.

Please could you confirm that the referral has been made, and let me know if you need any further information from me.

Thank you for your help.

Yours sincerely,
[Your full name]
[Date of birth]
[NHS number, if known]
[Address]
[Date]

Step 4: what happens next

1. GP appointment or letter received. The GP agrees a specialist referral is clinically appropriate and sends the referral, often on the provider’s own form. Ask the practice to confirm when it has gone.
2. Provider triage. The provider checks the referral and eligibility, then adds you to their waiting list. Chase the provider (not the GP) if you hear nothing within a few weeks.
3. Pre-assessment questionnaires. Most providers send forms for you, and sometimes someone who knows you well, to complete before the appointment.
4. The assessment. Usually a detailed clinical interview, often online. Prepare with the assessment prep worksheet.
5. Outcome and next steps. Report to you and your GP; if medication is agreed, titration follows, and long-term NHS prescribing depends on a shared care agreement with your GP.

Waiting times vary a lot by provider and change constantly: check the provider's own published wait before choosing. Prepare for the assessment itself with the assessment prep worksheet, and read how shared care works before medication decisions arise.

If the GP declines

• Ask for the reason, and ask for your preference for the named provider to be recorded in your notes
• Right to Choose is a legal right for eligible patients in England, although the GP still decides a specialist referral is clinically appropriate
• If stuck, your local Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can help, and you can raise it with the practice in writing

Frequently asked questions

This page is information only, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. ADHD can only be diagnosed by a registered clinician. If you are outside England, ask your GP about the NHS referral route where you live, which is still free.