Right to Choose is the single most important thing to understand if you want an NHS ADHD assessment in 2026. It can cut your wait from years to months, it is free, and it is a legal right. Here is how it works and how to use it.
What Right to Choose is
Right to Choose lets any adult in England pick which NHS-contracted provider performs their non-urgent assessment. For ADHD, that means you don't have to wait on your local NHS trust's CAMHS or adult mental health team — you can pick a provider in another part of the country with a shorter wait.
The assessment is fully NHS-funded. You pay nothing. If you are diagnosed, your medication is prescribed under NHS shared care, also free (you pay only the standard prescription charge or nothing if you are exempt).
The legal basis
Right to Choose is set out in the NHS Constitution (the legal document that defines your rights as an NHS patient) and the NHS Choice Framework. It has been in place for years for physical-health referrals and was extended to mental health in 2014.
Your GP and your ICB are legally required to honour your choice as long as the provider you pick holds an NHS contract for ADHD assessment. They cannot refuse because of cost.
Which providers accept Right to Choose
The major Right to Choose ADHD providers operating across England in 2026 include Psychiatry UK, ADHD 360, Care ADHD, Innovate ADHD, and ADHD Specialists. Waiting times vary considerably, so it is worth comparing before you decide which one to name in your referral.
Each provider has a referral form your GP must complete and send. Bringing the form (or a referral letter template) to your appointment removes one more reason for delay.
ICB activity limits and what they mean
Some ICBs have introduced 'activity limits' — caps on how many Right to Choose referrals they will fund in a given quarter. The legality of these caps is disputed and several have been quietly withdrawn after challenge.
If your GP tells you the ICB has paused or capped referrals, ask for that decision in writing. PALS can usually overturn it. Don't accept a verbal refusal at the front desk.
How to name the provider in your GP appointment
When you ask for the referral, be specific: 'I would like to be referred for an NHS ADHD assessment under Right to Choose, to <provider name>. I have the provider's referral form here.'
That single sentence prevents most of the standard objections. You have named the legal mechanism, named the provider, and removed the admin friction.
What happens after the referral is sent
Once your GP sends the referral, the provider will contact you — usually within two to four weeks — to confirm receipt and put you on their waiting list. You will receive an indicative wait time. You can chase the provider directly if you don't hear back.
When you reach the front of the queue, you will be invited to an assessment appointment (usually video). If diagnosed, you and the provider agree a treatment plan and arrange shared care with your GP for ongoing prescriptions.