Autism & ADHD

ADHD Referrals via Right to Choose

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessment - Right to Choose

If you are based in England under the NHS, you now have a legal right to choose your mental healthcare provider and the choice of mental healthcare team, this includes for referrals relating to ADHD assessment. This service is offered through the NHS and is free.

There are several clinics throughout the UK that can offer Right to Choose ADHD and/or ASD assessments. The provider’s website is usually a good place to start to find out if they offer the service needed. The number of providers is constantly changing. For more information on ADHD & Right to Choose referrals, the ADHD UK website has some useful information.

Process for requesting a Right to Choose referral from your GP

For all Right to Choose referrals, you will need to research and select a clinic It is not something the GP can advise on. Once chosen, you can complete an online form confirming who you have chosen and forward any forms to the practice. This will enable us to process the referral efficiently. The ICB has a list of approved providers – see below to select from but the list is likely to change.

Oxfordshire ICB Approved Providers for ADHD diagnosis and treatment

• Psychiatry UK
• Clinical Partners
• Dr J and Colleagues
• Care ADHD
• Oakdale

When can you not use Right to Choose?

There are some restrictions on which patients are eligible for a Right to Choose assessment and the below is a list of the reasons patients would not be eligible:

• need urgent or emergency treatment – this is often not relevant as there are rarely times when this type of referral is considered urgent but is still worth noting here.
• already receive care and treatment for the condition patients are seeking an assessment for.
• The organisation or clinical team chosen does not provide the right care for the condition.
• are a prisoner or on temporary release from prison.
• are detained in prescribed accommodation such as a court, secure training centre, immigration removal centre or young offender’s institute.
• are detained in a secure hospital setting.
• are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended in 2007).
• are a serving member of the armed forces.

Follow on care

The ADHD service is commissioned to assess, diagnose, start and titrate the medication to the appropriate dose and provide post-diagnostic reviews. The specialist will also remain responsible for arranging an annual review which includes a review of your ADHD symptoms, your medication, and a physical assessment.

Once a dose of the appropriate medication has been established, GPs may take on responsibility for on-going prescribing and monitoring under a shared care agreement (SCA) with the NHS service specialist. However, the responsibility remains with the specialist. This SCA is a carefully established agreement with defined responsibilities for both the NHS specialist and NHS GP. This is essential as it provides the NHS GP with prompt access to a specialist in the event of any concerns or problems. We will only enter into a SCA with the ICB approved providers listed above. There may be rare exceptions but will be considered on individual basis.