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NHS Right to Choose allows patients in England to choose where they receive their NHS outpatient care, including ADHD assessments. Where long local waiting lists exist, this pathway enables referral to an alternative NHS-commissioned provider elsewhere in England.
For ADHD clinicians, understanding how Right to Choose operates is increasingly important. Many patients are actively requesting it, yet awareness and interpretation of the framework can vary between GP practices and local NHS systems.
This page outlines the legal basis, eligibility criteria, referral mechanics, and practical considerations specific to ADHD services.
When considering ADHD assessment for adults or children, there are generally two broad routes:
Right to Choose does not apply in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, as healthcare is devolved and equivalent patient choice legislation has not been implemented in the same way.
Right to Choose is a patient choice right within NHS England. It applies when:
It is important to distinguish between:
A useful way to conceptualise this is:
The clinician decides whether a referral is clinically indicated. The patient decides where that referral is sent, provided the provider meets eligibility criteria.
Patients cannot be referred to any provider of their choosing. The selected provider must:
Many ADHD assessment services accessed under Right to Choose are independent sector organisations contracted to provide NHS services to NHS standards. These providers operate within NHS clinical governance frameworks.
If medication is initiated, prescriptions are issued under NHS arrangements.
Right to Choose does not apply in certain circumstances. Patients are not eligible if they are:
These exclusions are defined within NHS England guidance and should be reviewed when complex circumstances arise.
Clinicians frequently raise the following questions:
Is an Individual Funding Request required?
No. An IFR is not required where the provider holds a qualifying NHS contract.
Does the Integrated Care Board need to approve the referral?
No additional permission is required if the provider meets the eligibility criteria under Right to Choose.
Does ADHD assessment fall within the Right to Choose framework?
Yes. ADHD outpatient assessment falls within scope, provided the conditions outlined above are met.
Several NHS systems commission ADHD assessment services from independent providers. These are often informally referred to as “Right to Choose providers,” although legally they are simply NHS-contracted providers eligible under the framework.
Patients may request direct referral to one of these providers rather than entering their local waiting list.
Each provider sets out its own referral process, typically requiring:
Clinicians should advise patients to review the chosen provider’s referral guidance carefully to avoid administrative delays.
Many outsourced ADHD providers initiate medication but require a Shared Care Agreement with the patient’s GP for long-term prescribing.
This creates several practical considerations:
Clinicians should ensure patients understand that refusal of shared care may affect ongoing prescribing arrangements.
Right to Choose has significantly reduced access delays for many ADHD patients in England. However, increasing demand has led to local commissioning tensions and, in some areas, attempts to restrict referrals.
Policy and commissioning arrangements are evolving. Clinicians should remain alert to:
As this is a dynamic area of healthcare policy, advice may change over time.
For ADHD clinicians, the key principles are:
A well-informed approach reduces delays, supports patient autonomy, and helps ensure equitable access to ADHD assessment services across England.
NHS Right to Choose is a lawful and established patient choice mechanism within England. For ADHD assessments, it provides an alternative pathway where local waiting times are prolonged.
Clinicians play a critical role in understanding the framework, supporting informed patient decisions, and navigating referral logistics appropriately.
Clear communication, accurate documentation, and awareness of commissioning criteria are central to ensuring this pathway operates effectively and in accordance with NHS policy.
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A few of our frequently asked questions about this course
With the UK facing a growing ADHD diagnosis crisis, NHS waiting lists now average 2–3 years due to the high demand for assessments. By taking this course, you’ll not only gain specialist skills but also play a crucial role in alleviating this crisis. As a healthcare professional, you’ll be making a meaningful difference to individuals in urgent need of timely support and helping to address the ADHD backlog.
Since updates to the NG87 NICE guidelines, the guidance now states that ADHD diagnosis can be carried out by a “suitably qualified practitioner.” To be considered suitably qualified, practitioners must complete specific training that provides them with the knowledge and practical tools to deliver accurate diagnoses.
Our course offers an in-depth look into ADHD in adults, covering DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, the widely recognised DIVA assessment, and practical guidance from expert instructors. You’ll also gain insights into the evolution of ADHD understanding and explore best practices through real-world scenarios.
This course is open to all healthcare practitioners. Prices vary for consultant psychiatrists. As we are a training provider only, please be aware that we do not verify practitioner credentials, and each participant is responsible for securing their own professional indemnity after completing the course.
The course runs for a full 8-hour day via video link on Microsoft Teams. Participants are expected to engage fully in discussions, complete mock assessments, and participate in a final Q&A assessment to demonstrate their understanding.
Participants who complete the course receive a recognised CPD certification, which not only enhances professional credibility but can also be submitted to insurance providers as proof of ADHD diagnostic competence.
With demand for ADHD testing rising each year, private ADHD assessments have become a valuable income stream for qualified practitioners, with professionals able to charge up to £1,500 per assessment. This qualification offers flexibility, allowing you to incorporate assessments into existing work commitments.
Brilliant and very informative, Thank you.
I found the CPD training to be exceptionally clear, well-structured, and highly informative. The content was delivered in an engaging and accessible way, with excellent pacing throughout. The trainer’s delivery was particularly impressive, both insightful and impactful — making the learning experience extremely valuable.
Very informative course
Excellent, comprehensive but never feel like overloaded with information
Excellent, insightful and enabling course.
I thoroughly enjoyed the course and found it to be highly engaging. I appreciated the well-structured content and the inclusion of case studies, which allowed the application of the knowledge learnt throughout the session.
Incredible course. From ADHD history to applicability and diagnostic criteria, the course was well explained, engaging, and an excellent resource for those seeking a great understanding of the condition.
Great Speaker ( The trainer) , very knowledgeable and informative. Session was interactive.
Comprehensive ADHD assessment delivered.
Brilliant training! Lots of information given and lot of additional materials given for further reading.
Very informative and helpful to understand on how to manage properly patient with ADHD and ADS , has been delivered in a comprehensive yet effective manner as there is a lot of information to take however it has been made more clearer . Breaks in between were brilliant to have fresh air and come back with more energy to learn more, being in the room was even more productive to share and learn from other clinicians
Lovely trainer, well delivered
An engaging course that just clarified all that I knew but also some great information that will help moving forward, clear explanations and helpful tools for assessment and diagnosis.
Awesome experience
The full day training with The trainer was informative, clear and engaging. The mix of teaching, group work, a quiz and a mock assessment made it practical and enjoyable. The trainer explained everything well and encouraged questions, making it a great learning experience.
Great course, very informative and well explained.
Excellent course delivered professionally at an appropriate pace
Incredible management course on ADHD. The trainer provides an extremely deep & great class, interactive, with relevant examples and practicalities into real life. Extremely grateful for this course!
excellent
ADHD course was delivered with great perfection
Great course, gained a lot of insight into ADHD.
A complex, but enjoyable programme. This was more medical focussed on the diagnostic programme, which as a psychologist was less relevant to my day-to-day practice, but this was still very helpful.
fantastic course, extremely helpful
Very useful course, made it easier
Excellent teaching, informative and interactive course.
Thoroughly enjoyed the course. Would highly recommend it.
Interesting and informative course which has increased my understanding of ADHD, DIVA assessment and diagnosis based on DSM-5 criteria and guidelines.
Great course
excellent, engaging course. Kept people on track
Found the course helpful and the trainer supportive and engaging ,
I thoroughly enjoyed the session; it was both engaging and informative. The structure and presentation kept my attention throughout, and I found the content to be highly interesting.
Very informative and gave me a very understanding re: assessment and diagnosis of ADHD
Great interactive session
The course was delivered in great depth. I find certain parts to go a little too fast. I thoroughly enjoyed the training a learnt so much from everyone
This has been very informative. The facilitator was very patient and provided a lot of clarify with any questions raised.
Absoloute brilliant course, really enjoyed the structure and how interactive it was. The trainer was very accessible and ensured every question was left answered. He provided great additional support and overall I am very happy with this introduction into ADHD as a pharmacist. I'd definitely want to pursue further into ADHD.
The course was well explained by Dr Pav.
The trainer’s course was highly informative and gave me a strong baseline understanding of how to assess patients with ADHD. He clarified misconceptions I had, particularly that ADHD is not just about hyperactivity but also involves inattention. I especially appreciated how he guided us through each section of the DIVA-5 criteria, making it easy to understand. Overall, it was an excellent session that I would highly recommend to others.
Extremely informative and professionally run course which will prove extremely beneficial in my career development
The course was informative and interactive , the trainer was also supportive and patiently went into details if needed.
excellent course
Brilliant course well delivered .The trainer was very composed and professional answered all question posed to him by candidates through the session.
Thank you for an excellent course.
really good course full of practical examples and clinical relevancy to re-enforce the learning
Great training
Great and insightful training
quite informative
very in depth, I feel as though I got a good foundation of knowledge today to go off and build on
Fantastic course, very informative, thank you The trainer for excellent delivery of the course.
Great and very informative
very educative course
The training is very informative and useful. I've learned a lot from it.
Fantastic course, very informative. Would highly recommend.
It was interesting
As a Neurodivergent Individual, I found today really enjoyable and engaging. The trainer was excellent and explained things in a way that was easy to understand but informative.
Great course - thank you for having me.
Very informative and helpful
I enjoyed the training today. I felt it was a good balance of learning information, breakout rooms, and practice of the tools. There were good resources suggested as well
Very informative, engaging sessions
Excellent course, would like to gain more experience in aassessments now
Excellent summary course - feel really confident in using the tool and enjoyed the day.
The training was clear . I gained new skills
Truly grateful for this course. It has been extremely beneficial and informative. I had concerns that it would be treated like a check box exercise but The trainer demonstrated so much time, care and passion. I am currently working within a prison setting, where I will be conducting my DIVA-5 assessments but I will certainly be looking for a full time role in ADHD assessing.
Excellent course
Great course thoroughly enjoyed
Really enjoyed the course and found it very informative and I feel I have a good understanding of ADHD
Brilliant, would like to have spent a little more time going through them a little slower. Maybe the course needs to b 2 days, more cases.
I really enjoyed the course, he was really informative!
Very informative and useful. Thank you.
well structured and managed course
Thank you offering such a thorough training. The trainer was fantastic! It has really me to improved my knowledge about ADHD.
As a clinician who would like to prescribe for patients with ADHD in the future this was immensely helpful.
Fantastic first day, really enjoyed & informative. Looking forward to the management session tomorrow.
really enjoyed the course
Great course, clear concise information and a great start at looking at ADHD
Brilliant training! Lots of information given and a lot of additional materials provided for further reading.
Perfect amount of education and training.
I enjoyed the session. Informative and options to ask doubts in between.
This course was very educative. I have an interview coming up as a prescriber for ADHD, I am more confident now after attending this course
very informative course gives you all the background tools and knowledge required going forward to diagnosing and managing
A fabulous course about ADHD diagnosis which was fabulous, interesting, informative. I have learnt so much and very happy after today, so looking forward to the ADHD medication and management course in November
Excellent session, particularly enjoyed the session after lunch where theory was put into practice.
The course was delivered in a relaxed yet professional, organised manner with the trainer quite supportive and approachable
This was a great opportunity to enhence my understanding about ADHD.Today's training has enabled me to acquire relavant skills to diagnose ADHD through a thorough and well guided pathway.The presentation was clear,interactive and kept us well engaged.As a resuilt,i can confidently be invoved in active management of ADHD to assist in alleviating the existing ADHD management crisis.
Thank you for course very insightful this has helped me understand how to do an assessment for ADHD thanks for your time and knowledge :)
I enjoyed the training
This training has ignited me to continually build on my knowledge of ADHD and how to support.
Both courses were very informative, interactive
Excellent training, with opportunities to collaborate. I feel confident in the use of DIVA.
I really enjoyed the course and it was very informative and insightful.
This course completely transformed how I approach my work. The lessons were clear, practical, and easy to follow. Thanks to the instructor’s guidance, I gained new skills that I could immediately apply.
Great training , really enjoy it and very captivating and informative
I attended on Saturday, and the learning experience was incredible. It confirmed that ADHD is definitely my career route, and I look forward to attending the management course.
The course was very informative
Thanks to The trainer and a brilliant delivery
Excellent training course- the facilitators are good at teaching and answering questions.
Very well presented, thoroughly enjoyed the course and found it very informative and helpful - Please NB CV will be sent on Tuesday 17/06/25
It has been really helpful and insightful training, also enjoyed the delivery and group interactions.
Very Interactive and well presented
excellent course, very in depth and high level of detail and first hand experience within the evolving sector that is neurodiversity
This comprehensive training, guided by experienced ADHD specialists, ensures participants are well-prepared to handle diverse cases and offers the added benefit of earning a recognised CPD certification. This certification not only validates your expertise but also enhances your professional credibility in the field. We encourage you to book the course today to advance your skills in ADHD diagnosis.
If you have any questions or need assistance in choosing the right course for you, please get in contact with us. Our team is here to support you every step of the way.
