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ADHD Right to Choose: how it works and which providers each NHS board lists

In England the NHS can pay for an ADHD assessment at an independent provider, if your GP agrees a referral is clinically appropriate and the provider holds an NHS contract. There is no national list of providers: each NHS board decides what to publish. Below is what the boards that do publish a list say.

Docorix read the official pages named on this page on 30 October 2026. This is information, not medical advice, and Docorix is not part of the NHS and cannot make or speed up a referral. Waiting times, caps and provider lists change without notice: confirm with your GP and the provider before you rely on anything here.

The right, in official words

A legal right in England
The NHS says that in most cases you have a right to choose which mental health service provider you go to in England, including the legal right to choose which service provider and clinical team you are referred to for your first appointment.
Source: NHS – How to access mental health services (your right to choose)
For ADHD
The NHS’s ADHD page says you can ask for an NHS appointment at any clinic, including a private clinic, if it provides ADHD services for the NHS in England.
Source: NHS – ADHD in adults
Which providers
NHS England’s guidance says you can choose any clinically appropriate provider that holds a qualifying NHS Standard Contract with any ICB or NHS England for the service you need, and that services delivered remotely, such as ADHD and autism assessments, may also be subject to the legal right to choice of provider.
Source: NHS England – Patient choice guidance (published 19 December 2023)
Your GP refers you
The guidance says the legal rights do not extend to self-referrals, and that referrers are responsible for determining the clinical appropriateness of a referral.
Source: NHS England – Patient choice guidance (published 19 December 2023)
A right to choose, not to a referral
NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire says Right to Choose is a right to choose a service provider, not a right to a referral.
Source: NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire – Right to Choose (ADHD/ASD Patient Choice)
When you cannot choose
The NHS says you do not have a legal right to choose if, for example, you need urgent, emergency or crisis treatment, or you are already having care and treatment for the condition you have been referred for and it is an onward referral.
Source: NHS – How to access mental health services (your right to choose)
If you are likely to wait too long
The NHS says you have the legal right to ask for your appointment to be moved to a different provider if you are likely to wait longer than the maximum waiting time specified for your treatment.
Source: NHS – Your choices in the NHS

What to check before you choose

Assessment only, or treatment too?
NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire says a Right to Choose provider may not integrate with local pathways, which may mean the GP is unable to accept shared care and the patient may have to remain with the independent sector provider for ongoing monitoring, reviews and medication.
Source: NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire – Right to Choose (ADHD/ASD Patient Choice)
GPs can say no to shared care
NHS Devon says entering into a shared care agreement is voluntary for GPs.
Source: NHS Devon – Devon Formulary and Referral, ADHD and Autism FAQ
Waits in Devon
NHS Devon says Right to Choose providers have been asked to support a minimum 14-week waiting time from GP referral to first appointment or assessment, with a potential maximum of 52 weeks.
Source: NHS Devon – Devon Formulary and Referral, ADHD and Autism FAQ
Waits in North East and North Cumbria
NHS North East and North Cumbria says that for 2026/27 providers it funds are working to an approximately 78-week minimum waiting time for an initial assessment.
Source: NHS North East and North Cumbria – ADHD and autism
Children: ask your board
Routes for children differ by board. NHS Essex says referrals to its listed providers must be made by your GP and that schools are not able to refer children to these services under Right to Choose.
Source: NHS Essex – Children and young people’s autism and ADHD specialist service providers

Which board lists which provider for ADHD

A = adults, C = children and young people, as the board’s own page lists it. A dot means the board names the provider on a combined ADHD and autism list without saying who it is for – use the board’s page. Docorix read these boards on 9 October 2026. Boards not shown here did not publish a provider list that Docorix could find.

ProviderDevonBristol, N Somerset, S GlosBlack CountryLancashire and S CumbriaEssexNorfolk and Suffolk
CARE ADHDA•AACACA
Help for PsychologyC•CC–C
The Owl CentreA•–CAAC
ADHD 360AC•ACAC––
Atrom MindcareA•A–A–
Clinical PartnersAC•ACC––
Evolve PsychologyAC••C–C
Harley Street Mental HealthA•A––A
Harrow HealthA•A––A
Held HealthC•CC––
OakdaleAC•ACC––
Paloma HealthC••C–C
PsiconAC•ACC––
Skylight PsychiatryA•A––A
Aspen ClinicAC––C––
Body and Mind HealthcareC–––C–
Dr J and ColleaguesAC•A–––
La TahzanA–A–––
MentalWellA•––A–
Modality––A––A
Optimise Healthcare GroupA–A–––
ProblemSharedA•A–––
Psychiatry UKA•A–––
The ADHD ServiceAC–––C–
ADHD CertifyAC–––––
Berkeley PsychiatristsA•––––
Ciconia RecoveryAC–––––
Community Assessment Therapy Services–––––C
Elixir Medics––––A–
Harley Mind CareA–––––
HealiosAC–––––
Healthcare Central London–•––A–
Innovate ADHDA•––––
Insight DiagnosticsA•––––
Medinet Minds–•A–––
Mina Essex Autism, ADHD and Dyspraxia Diagnostic Centre––––C–
Mind Professionals––––C–
National Neurodiversity Assessments–––––C
Provide––––C–
RTN MedicalA–––––
Rainbow Diagnostics–•––A–
Seven Care Services––•––C
Solutions4HealthA–•–––
The National Autism Assessment Centre––––C–
The Private Therapy Clinic––––C–
Well Life ClinicA•––––
XylaA–––––

Find your NHS board

Next

Sources

NHS – How to access mental health services (your right to choose)NHS – ADHD in adultsNHS England – Patient choice guidance (published 19 December 2023)NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire – Right to Choose (ADHD/ASD Patient Choice)NHS – Your choices in the NHSNHS Devon – Devon Formulary and Referral, ADHD and Autism FAQNHS North East and North Cumbria – ADHD and autismNHS Essex – Children and young people’s autism and ADHD specialist service providers