Assessment
Right to Choose for an ADHD assessment in England
How Right to Choose works for an ADHD assessment in England: who it covers, what to say to your GP, what changed in 2025 and 2026, and what to do if you're refused.
Assessment
Right to Choose for ADHD: what each area of England is doing
Some areas of England now limit Right to Choose for ADHD. Here's what each local NHS area says, and the waits providers publish. We check it every month.
In short
- Right to Choose is an England-only NHS right. It doesn't apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
- We checked all 36 local NHS areas on 7 October 2026. For adults: 9 open, 22 limited and 5 not clear. For children: 6 open, 17 limited and 13 not clear.
- Even where an area is open, one provider may have used up its places there. Check with the provider before you ask your GP.
- No provider pays to appear here, and we don't rank them.
How to use this page
- Find your local NHS area. It's the integrated care board (ICB) your GP practice belongs to. The NHS lists every ICB by region. Or search your GP practice's postcode on the NHS Organisation Data Service site, where the ICB is shown as the "Higher Health Authority".
- Find your area in the tables below.
- Choose a provider, and check its own website says it's booking people from your area.
- Ask your GP to refer you. Our Right to Choose guide explains what to say.
What the labels mean
- Open: the local NHS says Right to Choose for ADHD is going ahead with no limits.
- Limited: providers have a yearly limit here, or there are extra rules. For example, only people with the greatest need, a minimum wait, or a local NHS check first. You can usually still be referred, but you may wait longer.
- Paused: routine assessments have stopped for now.
- Not clear: we couldn't find a clear, recent statement. Ask your GP and the provider.
Status uses the local NHS's own published statements first (web pages, policies, freedom of information replies). Where three or more providers say the area has set limits, it is marked limited even if the NHS has said nothing newer. Each row links to the page we used, with the date that page shows.
Area by area
Checked 7 October 2026. Next check November 2026.
North West
| Area | Adults | Children | What we found | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheshire and Merseyside | Limited | Open | The NHS here is buying fewer adult assessments in 2026/27. Adults must meet strict rules and be seen face to face nearby. Children can still use it. | NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB, 23 December 2025 |
| Greater Manchester | Limited | Limited | You can still choose a provider, but providers have set limits, so many will only see the most urgent people and waits may be longer. | NHS Greater Manchester ICB, 18 September 2026 |
| Lancashire and South Cumbria | Limited | Not clear | Providers were asked to do fewer new adult assessments, so waits may be longer. No decision has been published for children. | NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, 11 March 2026 |
North East and Yorkshire
| Area | Adults | Children | What we found | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humber and North Yorkshire | Not clear | Not clear | We could not find a clear, current NHS statement. In June 2026 there were no limits, but limits were being agreed. Ask your GP. | NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB (FOI letter, hosted by ADHD UK), 15 June 2026 |
| North East and North Cumbria | Limited | Limited | You can still ask for a Right to Choose referral, but providers here are working to a wait of about 78 weeks (around 18 months). | NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB, not dated |
| South Yorkshire | Open | Open | Right to Choose is available here, with no limits reported in May 2026. Children in Doncaster and Rotherham usually start through school, not the GP. | NHS South Yorkshire ICB (FOI letter, hosted by ADHD UK), 29 May 2026 |
| West Yorkshire | Limited | Limited | You can still ask for a Right to Choose referral, but the wait for an assessment here is at least two years from referral. | West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (NHS West Yorkshire ICB), not dated |
Midlands
| Area | Adults | Children | What we found | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham and Solihull | Limited | Limited | Some Right to Choose providers have paused new ADHD assessments here. Ask your chosen provider if they are booking before your GP refers you. | NHS Black Country ICB (page covers both areas), not dated |
| Black Country | Limited | Limited | Right to Choose has limits here and some providers have paused new ADHD assessments. Check with the provider first, and expect extra checks on referrals. | NHS Black Country ICB, not dated |
| Coventry and Warwickshire | Limited | Limited | Anyone can use Right to Choose again since the under-25 rule ended in May 2026, but some providers have yearly limits here. Check first. | NHS Coventry and Warwickshire ICB (Happy Healthy Lives is the ICB's website), May 2026 |
| Derby and Derbyshire | Open | Not clear | For adults, Right to Choose is the NHS route for an ADHD assessment here. Ask your GP. Children's position is not clear. | NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), 7 May 2026 |
| Herefordshire and Worcestershire | Open | Limited | Adults can use Right to Choose with no limits reported. Children must be seen face to face by one of five approved providers. | NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), 3 June 2026 |
| Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland | Limited | Limited | Right to Choose providers here have a set number of assessments. Some have stopped booking. Check with the provider before asking your GP. | NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB, April 2026 |
| Lincolnshire | Not clear | Not clear | We found no current NHS page on Right to Choose for ADHD here. Limits for this year were still being agreed in July 2026. | NHS Lincolnshire ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), 31 July 2026 |
| Northamptonshire | Limited | Not clear | In May 2026 the NHS here reported no limits, but several providers now say funded places have run out. Check with the provider first. | NHS Northamptonshire ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), 22 May 2026 |
| Nottingham and Nottinghamshire | Open | Not clear | The NHS here said in February 2026 there are no limits on adults using Right to Choose for ADHD. Children's position is not clear. | NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB, 17 February 2026 |
| Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin | Not clear | Not clear | We found no current NHS page on Right to Choose for ADHD here. There are no known caps. Ask your GP. | NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), 6 July 2026 |
| Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent | Not clear | Not clear | The NHS here reports no limits, but one provider says adult referrals need an extra NHS check first. We couldn't confirm this. | NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), 11 May 2026 |
East of England
| Area | Adults | Children | What we found | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central East (Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Hertfordshire) | Limited | Not clear | Adults can be referred only if they meet the NHS area's rules for an ADHD check. There is no clear NHS update for children. | NHS Central East ICB, 11 September 2026 |
| Essex | Open | Open | In Essex, adults and children can ask their GP to refer them to an NHS-paid ADHD provider of their choice. | NHS Essex ICB, 1 October 2026 |
| Norfolk and Suffolk | Limited | Limited | You can still ask your GP for a Right to Choose ADHD referral, but the NHS here limits how many each provider can do. | NHS Norfolk and Suffolk ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), 2 June 2026 |
London
| Area | Adults | Children | What we found | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East London | Open | Not clear | Adults can ask their GP for a Right to Choose assessment, but local NHS does not yet fund Right to Choose ADHD medicine. | NHS North East London ICB (FOI letter, published by ADHD UK), 4 June 2026 |
| South East London | Limited | Not clear | Adults can still use Right to Choose, but your GP must first send you to a local NHS checking service, which then passes you on. | NHS South East London ICB (South East London ICS), 7 July 2026 |
| South West London | Limited | Limited | Your GP can refer you or your child, but several providers say they've reached this year's limit here, so new bookings may wait. | NHS South West London ICB, 1 July 2026 |
| West and North London | Limited | Limited | You can still ask your GP for a Right to Choose referral, but some providers have used up this year's places and have waiting lists. | NHS West and North London ICB, not dated |
South East
| Area | Adults | Children | What we found | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampshire and Isle of Wight | Limited | Limited | You can still be referred, but only people who meet the NHS's priority rules will be offered an assessment in 2027. | NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB, September 2026 |
| Kent and Medway | Limited | Limited | Routine assessments aren't expected to restart before April 2027. You can still join a waiting list, and people with the greatest need can still be seen. | Medway Council (reporting NHS Kent and Medway ICB letter), 12 August 2026 |
| Surrey and Sussex | Limited | Not clear | Sussex had no limits in May 2026, but several providers now say the NHS here has set yearly limits. Check with the provider first. | NHS Surrey and Sussex ICB, 6 October 2026 |
| Thames Valley (Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire) | Limited | Limited | You can still ask your GP for Right to Choose, but providers have a yearly limit, so you may be put on a waiting list. | NHS Thames Valley ICB, not dated |
South West
| Area | Adults | Children | What we found | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire | Open | Open | In June 2026 the NHS here said it had set no limits on Right to Choose ADHD assessments. Ask your GP. | NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), 10 June 2026 |
| Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire | Limited | Limited | Each clinic can only see a set number of local people each year. If yours is full, you may wait or pick another. | NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB (BNSSG Healthier Together), 13 July 2026 |
| Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly | Open | Open | In May 2026 the NHS here said it had set no limits on Right to Choose ADHD assessments. Ask your GP. | NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), 18 May 2026 |
| Devon | Limited | Limited | You can use Right to Choose, but the NHS here sets a minimum wait of 14 weeks before a first assessment. | NHS Devon ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), 1 June 2026 |
| Dorset | Open | Open | In May 2026 the NHS here said it had set no limits on Right to Choose ADHD assessments. Ask your GP. | NHS Dorset ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), 27 May 2026 |
| Gloucestershire | Not clear | Not clear | We could not find a clear, recent NHS statement for this area. Ask your GP about Right to Choose for ADHD. | ADHD UK, 28 May 2026 |
| Somerset | Limited | Limited | Clinics can only see a set number of local people. You can still choose, but some clinics have long waits. Check first. | NHS Somerset ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), 4 December 2025 |
The waits providers publish
These are the waits each provider shows on its own website. We haven't checked them independently, and many depend on your area. Listed A to Z.
| Provider | Who for | Assessment wait | Medication wait | Also says | Page date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADHD 360 | Adults and children aged 8+ | Published for each area, from 12 to 104 weeks | Not published | Gives an average wait for each NHS area | 11 Sep 2026 |
| CARE ADHD | Adults and children | Adults: contacted within 1 to 2 weeks of returning forms. Children: not published | Up to 4 to 5.5 months | Lists 8 areas with restrictions for adults | Reviewed Sep 2026 |
| Clinical Partners | Adults and children | Adults about 2 weeks; children about 8 weeks | 8 to 10 months | No new booking dates in 9 areas; referrals there go on a waiting list | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Dr J & Colleagues | Adults | Not published; over 2 years in 13 areas with limits | Not published | Not dated | |
| Harley Street Mental Health | Adults | Shown by postcode checker only; may be over a year in 6 areas | Not published | 30 May 2026 | |
| Harrow Health | Adults | Not published | Not published | Says it will contact you within 8 weeks of referral | Not dated |
| Mentalwell | Adults aged 18 to 65 | No waiting list in most of England | Not published | Not taking referrals from 3 areas; waiting list in 11 others | Not dated |
| ProblemShared | Adults (children coming soon) | 4 to 8 weeks | 25 to 40 weeks | 1 Oct 2026 | |
| Psicon | Adults and children | Published for each area, for example 2 weeks for adults and 4 weeks for children in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire | Not published | No routine assessments funded in about 10 areas | 22 Sep 2026 |
| Psychiatry-UK | Adults | 14 to 24 weeks; over 52 weeks in 14 areas with limits | Up to 60 to 65 weeks | 9 Sep 2026 | |
| Skylight Psychiatry | Adults | About 10 weeks; much longer in some areas (up to 31 months in Norfolk and Suffolk) | About 24 weeks | Yearly limit reached in 18 areas; referrals there stay open | Not dated (area list updated monthly) |
| The Owl Centre | Adults and children | Published for each area, from 26 to 34 weeks up to 2 years | 52 weeks or more | Not dated |
What's changed
- 7 October 2026: First published. All 36 local NHS areas in England and 12 providers checked.
Found your area? Check your chosen provider is booking people from it, then ask your GP for a Right to Choose referral. Our Right to Choose guide explains what to say.
Sources
- NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB, Clinical Commissioning Policy: Adult ADHD (CMICB_Clin120, v1.0) (23 December 2025)
- NHS Greater Manchester ICB, ADHD and Autism Assessments (18 September 2026)
- NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, Update on adult ADHD assessments in Lancashire and South Cumbria (Adult ADHD position statement) (11 March 2026)
- NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism (not dated)
- NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB (FOI letter, hosted by ADHD UK), Freedom of Information response HNY 2012 (Right to Choose ADHD indicative activity plans) (15 June 2026)
- NHS South Yorkshire ICB (FOI letter, hosted by ADHD UK), Freedom of Information response 2627-054 (Right to Choose ADHD indicative activity plans) (29 May 2026)
- West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (NHS West Yorkshire ICB), Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Activity Plan (not dated)
- NHS Black Country ICB (page covers both areas), Right to Choose referrals for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) (not dated)
- NHS Black Country ICB, Right to Choose referrals for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) (not dated)
- NHS Coventry and Warwickshire ICB (Happy Healthy Lives is the ICB's website), ADHD and Autism - Happy Healthy Lives (May 2026)
- NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), FOI 0790 response (joint NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB / NHS Coventry and Warwickshire ICB) (3 June 2026)
- NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), FOI/0526/035 response (NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB) (6 July 2026)
- NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), FOI response 0526/1716: Right to Choose ADHD activity plans (11 May 2026)
- NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), FOI 4121 response (NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB) (7 May 2026)
- NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB, Update on Autism and ADHD Right to Choose services - April 2026 (April 2026)
- NHS Lincolnshire ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), FOI L-0046 response (NHS Lincolnshire ICB) (31 July 2026)
- NHS Northamptonshire ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), FOI 10463 response (NHS Northamptonshire ICB) (22 May 2026)
- NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB, FOI NN-ICB/26-1483 response: Adult ADHD commissioning policies (17 February 2026)
- NHS Central East ICB, Mental Health – Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Referral for Assessment (clinical policy v1.0) (11 September 2026)
- NHS Essex ICB, Adult Autism and ADHD specialist service providers (1 October 2026)
- NHS Norfolk and Suffolk ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), FOI response 0053 - ADHD assessments (Right to Choose indicative activity plans) (2 June 2026)
- NHS West and North London ICB, ADHD and autism - NHS West and North London ICB (not dated)
- NHS North East London ICB (FOI letter, published by ADHD UK), FOI response FOI.26.NEL055 - ADHD assessments (NHS North East London ICB), hosted by ADHD UK (4 June 2026)
- NHS South East London ICB (South East London ICS), ADHD (adults) - South East London ICS (7 July 2026)
- NHS South West London ICB, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism - Right To Choose - NHS South West London ICB (1 July 2026)
- NHS Thames Valley ICB, ADHD services (not dated)
- NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB, Key updates: Autism and ADHD Assessment Services (section: September 2026 – Current information on the ADHD and autism assessments through the Right to Choose (RTC) pathway) (September 2026)
- Medway Council (reporting NHS Kent and Medway ICB letter), Changes to ADHD and Autism Services in Kent and Medway (report to Medway Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee, based on NHS Kent and Medway ICB submission) (12 August 2026)
- NHS Surrey and Sussex ICB, Right to choose for mental health care (6 October 2026)
- NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), FOI response FOI-BSW-2605-046: ADHD assessments (adults and children) (10 June 2026)
- NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB (BNSSG Healthier Together), Accessing autism and ADHD assessments via Right to Choose (13 July 2026)
- NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), FOI response 106740: ADHD assessments and Right to Choose indicative activity plans (18 May 2026)
- NHS Devon ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), FOI response FOINHSD26/1717: ADHD assessments and Right to Choose (1 June 2026)
- NHS Dorset ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), FOI response ICB 048: ADHD assessments and Right to Choose indicative activity plans (27 May 2026)
- ADHD UK, NHS Gloucestershire ICB ADHD Assessment Information collated by ADHD UK (28 May 2026)
- NHS Somerset ICB (FOI response, published by ADHD UK), FOI response: Right to Choose indicative activity plans (NHS Somerset ICB) (4 December 2025)
- ADHD 360, Right to Choose waiting times (11 Sep 2026)
- CARE ADHD, Right to Choose waiting times (Reviewed Sep 2026)
- Clinical Partners, Right to Choose waiting times (29 Sep 2026)
- Dr J & Colleagues, Right to Choose waiting times (Not dated)
- Harley Street Mental Health, Right to Choose waiting times (30 May 2026)
- Harrow Health, Right to Choose waiting times (Not dated)
- Mentalwell, Right to Choose waiting times (Not dated)
- ProblemShared, Right to Choose waiting times (1 Oct 2026)
- Psicon, Right to Choose waiting times (22 Sep 2026)
- Psychiatry-UK, Right to Choose waiting times (9 Sep 2026)
- Skylight Psychiatry, Right to Choose waiting times (Not dated (area list updated monthly))
- The Owl Centre, Right to Choose waiting times (Not dated)
Last checked October 2026. Next check November 2026.
This guide gives general information. It isn't medical advice, and it can't tell you what's right for you. No clinic, provider or brand pays to appear here, and we don't take referral fees.
If you need help now
Questions about medicines, doses or running out? Talk to your prescriber or a pharmacist, or call NHS 111.
If you're having thoughts of harming yourself, you don't have to cope alone. Call Samaritans free on 116 123, any time, or call 999 if you're in immediate danger.
For urgent help, call 111 and select the mental health option. 111 will tell you the right place to get help. You may be able to speak to a trained mental health professional over the phone.
For information and support with your mental health, Mind's Infoline is on 0300 123 3393, 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (England and Wales).
Sources: NHS, Where to get urgent help for mental health; Mind, Helplines. Last checked September 2026.
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