Needs first. Plain English. Trauma aware.

Right to Choose (NHS autism/ADHD assessment)

⚠️ Important 2026 update — RTC is under pressure
Right to Choose still exists as a legal right, but since late 2025 many ICBs have introduced funding caps (called Indicative Activity Plans) that are causing providers to pause new bookings in some areas. This is not the same as RTC being abolished — but it does mean that in some parts of England you may be told there is no capacity right now. Check with your local ICB and chosen provider before assuming you can access RTC.
Page updated: June 2026 | Always verify current provider status directly

      Critical point — always run two tracks at once

      Assessment is one track. Support is another. Don't wait for a diagnosis to request school support — schools must meet needs based on what they can observe, not what's been formally diagnosed. Even if RTC is paused in your area, support at school can start now.

What is RTC 2026 pauses Quick start GP scripts Providers If blocked

What is Right to Choose?

Right to Choose (RTC) is an NHS legal right in England that allows patients to choose which qualified provider delivers their NHS-funded assessment. For autism and ADHD, this means your GP can refer you to an approved independent provider instead of — or as well as — waiting for an NHS trust service.

It was designed to reduce unacceptable wait times. NHS waiting lists for autism and ADHD assessment in many areas exceed 2–4 years. Many RTC providers have historically offered assessments within 3–12 months.

RTC applies to:

Adults and children in England registered with a GP
Both autism and ADHD assessments
Any qualified provider with an NHS contract for your ICB area

RTC does not apply to:

Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland (different systems apply)
Providers without an NHS contract for your ICB
Areas where your ICB has exhausted its activity plan (see below)

⚠️ The 2026 funding situation — what's actually happening

This is the biggest change to RTC in years and the page needed updating because of it.

From 2025–26, NHS England introduced Indicative Activity Plans (IAPs) — funding caps telling providers how many RTC assessments they can deliver per ICB area per financial year. When an ICB's cap is reached, providers are instructed to pause new bookings in that area until the next financial year starts in April.

What this means in practice:

At least nine ICB areas paused RTC activity in late 2025, with pauses running into 2026
Some ICBs set reduced activity levels for April 2026 – March 2027, meaning fewer assessments than before
You still have the legal right to choose a provider — but if all contracted providers are paused in your area, you may effectively be unable to access RTC right now
The pause is a funding decision by commissioners, not a capacity issue with providers

What to do if your area is paused:

Ask your GP to make the referral anyway and put you on the waiting list — your place should be held
Contact your ICB directly to ask about current RTC status and when activity will resume
Check the provider's own website — some providers list ICB status in real time
Start school/workplace support now regardless — needs-based support does not require diagnosis
Consider whether private assessment is an option as a parallel route

Sources: Special Needs Jungle (Nov 2025), Psychiatry UK updates (2026), Problem Shared RTC page (2026), NHS HIOW ICB statement (2026)

Quick start

Check your ICB's current RTC status (search "[your area] ICB right to choose")
Check your preferred provider's website for ICB availability
Write 3–5 specific examples: need + measurable impact at home and school
Choose: autism, ADHD, or both
Use the GP script below and ask for written confirmation
Request school support now in parallel — don't wait

Before you go to your GP
Know which provider you want to name. You have the right to name a specific provider. GPs do not have to offer you a choice — you have to exercise it.

GP scripts

Short script (phone or reception)

Hello, I'd like to request an autism/ADHD assessment referral using NHS Right to Choose. I'd like to use [provider name] if possible. The needs are significantly impacting daily life and education. Can I have written confirmation that the referral has been started, including the provider name and reference number?

Full script (patient access message or email)

Dear [GP name],

I am requesting an autism/ADHD assessment referral under NHS Right to Choose.

The needs are causing measurable impact at home and in education. Examples:
— [Example 1: what happens + impact + how often]
— [Example 2: what happens + impact + how often]
— [Example 3: what happens + impact + how often]

I would like to use [provider name] under Right to Choose.

Please confirm in writing:
— Referral has been started
— Which provider
— Reference number

While waiting for assessment, I am also requesting that needs-based support begins immediately at school — I understand this does not require a diagnosis.

Kind regards,
[Your name]

If your GP says the provider is paused in your area:
Say: "I'd like the referral made now so my child is on the list. Can you confirm the referral is logged and I'll be contacted when capacity opens?" Request written confirmation. If the GP won't refer at all, ask for written reasons and escalate.

Known providers (January 2026 list — verify before using)

⚠️ Provider availability changes frequently. Always check the provider's own website for current ICB availability before asking your GP to refer. The list below is based on a January 2026 GP guidance document and may not reflect current status.

ADHD providers

Provider	CYP	Adults	Website
Psychiatry UK	✓	✓	psychiatry-uk.com
ADHD 360	✓	✓	adhd-360.com
Clinical Partners	✓	✓	clinical-partners.co.uk
Problem Shared	✓	✓	problemshared.net
CARE ADHD	✓	✓	careadhd.co.uk
The Owl Centre	✓	✓	theowl.org
Harrow Health CIC	✗	✓	adhdrighttochoose.com

Autism providers

Provider	CYP	Adults	Website
Clinical Partners	✓	✓	clinical-partners.co.uk
Problem Shared	✓	✓	problemshared.net
Axia ASD	✗	✓	axia-asd.co.uk
Oakdale Centre	✓	✓	oakdalegroup.org
Paloma Health	✓	✗	paloma.health
Help4 Psychology	✓	✗	help4psychology.co.uk

Find your ICB: nhs.uk/service-search/find-your-local-icb
NHS RTC official page: nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/right-to-choose

Realistic timeline

⚠️ Timescales vary hugely and have worsened since 2025. Even where RTC is active, waiting times have increased as demand has grown. Treat any quoted timescales as rough guides only.

1 Check ICB status first

Before anything else, check whether your ICB and chosen provider are currently accepting referrals. This saves wasted effort if paused.

2 GP referral

Send your GP message with examples and evidence. Request written confirmation: referral started, provider, reference number. Chase after 7–14 days if nothing received.

3 Provider intake forms

Provider sends questionnaires and intake forms. Complete and return promptly — delays here push your start date back. Keep copies of everything.

4 Wait and prepare

Use the waiting time to build evidence: school reports, teacher observations, GP records, parent diary. This strengthens the assessment. Request school support now — it does not require diagnosis.

5 Assessment

Format varies by provider — usually questionnaires, phone or video interviews, possibly observation. Some providers do written reports quickly; others take weeks.