If it is decided that the wait time is too long via the NHS local pathways, patients can choose to be referred via the Right to Choose to a preferred NHS-contracted provider.
Important Information
- GPs cannot select a provider on a patient’s behalf. You must research your options and choose a provider that meets your needs.
- The Right to Choose is available for children over 5 and adults. However, you must research which providers are suitable for your age group.
- Check their website exclusion criteria and service details.
- Most RTC providers conduct assessments remotely or online only.
- Local commissioned providers within Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS may not accept diagnoses made by RTC and could require their own assessment process.
- As a surgery we do not accept shared care agreements for medication, therefore please ensure to research if the provider offers both assessment, treatment and annual reviews.
Providers:
You can find more information on providers based in England on the links below. This website includes information on age groups for both ADHD and ASD, authorisation to provide NHS ADHD medication, and wait times for both ADHD and ASD. Please note each provider have different wait times and referral processes.
Right to Choose - ADHD UK
ADHD or Autism assessment Referrals
If you are requesting a referral for an ADHD or Autism assessment it is essential that you read everything on this page carefully otherwise you might not get the help you need.
You can be referred for an ADHD or Autism assessment on one of three ways:
- Referral to NHS Services. (18+)
Although the waiting times are quite long, these services are designed to work well with local GP’s. There are not usually any issues with patients getting medication if they need it. If you wish to be referred to the local service, please scroll to the bottom of the page and click the button and read the information on that page.
- Right to Choose.
The Right to Choose scheme means you can be referred to any service that has an NHS contract in England. People usually choose these as the waiting times are shorter. However, many do not provide a full service compared to what you would get locally.
- Private Referral.
Sometimes people decide to have a private referral for ADHD / Autism assessment. Whilst the assessment may be a one-off cost, you should factor in the cost of ongoing treatment as you will have to keep paying for your prescriptions from the private specialist.
Like most surgeries Riverside Family Practice will not prescribe ADHD medications on behalf of a private provider, and we will not refer onto NHS pathways for treatment if the diagnosis was via a private provider.
Your responsibility
If you choose to go down the Right to Choose Pathway, it is your responsibility to make sure the provider you choose will meet the criteria of the Lancashire & South Cumbria guidelines. We cannot check on your behalf or confirm before the referral.
Due to the frequent changes in providers of ADHD / Autism assessments, and the increasing demands on general practice, we can not accept any responsibility for being unable to prescribe ADHD / Autism medications. Remember that we will never enter into shared care agreements with private providers, and Right to Choose providers should always be organisations who can prescribe medications independently of the GP.
We do not accept any responsibility for disruptions to access medications if the selected provider cannot provide ongoing prescriptions on the NHS in the absence of GP input and reserve the right to decline to enter into a shared care agreement or withdraw from a shared care agreement at any time.