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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.
excellent
Brilliant course, well presented.
A great course, really detailed discussions on how to deliver DIVA-5 assessment and about ADHD.
Fantastic course, The trainer was excellent
The course was very informative, loved the break out rooms and meeting other professionals. I would highly recommend it to others
Excellent course very educating, would recommend it anytime.
Very useful course! Very welcoming for those of us that do not prescribe medication as well which was really lovely! I would like to know more pathways about potentially increasing skills to be able to go into ADHD coaching as this sounds very interesting also!
I attended the ADHD Assessment and Diagnosis training and it was very informative, good teaching skills and content of training met my clinical and assessments need.
I found the course to be highly informative and well-interacted. The content was clearly structured, up-to-date, and relevant to real-world practice.
I attended the Diagnostic ADHD Course, and it exceeded my expectations. The instructor presented diagnostic concepts with clarity and compassion, balancing theoretical guidelines with practical application. I gained a solid understanding of assessment frameworks, common presentations across age groups, and how to translate findings into actionable support plans. This course is a valuable resource for students, professionals, and individuals seeking a nuanced, evidence-based understanding of ADHD.
Very informative and well presented. I enjoyed this course.
Great course, very informative and explaination of how drugs work was great. The trainer is very knowledgeable and the teaching skills are impressive
Brilliant, loved it! thank you so much, it has really ignited my passion as a clinician.
Thank you The trainer for this amazing course , really useful and effective . I got thorough understanding of detailed DIVA assessment and ADHD for adults and children .
Very informative course, clearly delivered and very accessible.
Great course - thank you
A great day, its given me an appetite to devleop my knowledge for ADHD
Good teaching and very informative
Excellent, comprehensive but never feel like overloaded with information
This course has significantly improved my knowledge and understanding of diagnostic criteria. Highly recommend to anyone in ADHD care.
Amazing session, I feel very confident on how to use the DIVA and my knowledge on ADHD has massively improved
The ADHD training was informative and insightful. I appreciated the level of detail and the effort the facilitator put into explaining the concepts. However, I found that one day (eight hours) wasn’t quite enough to take in all the information because the topic is quite broad and detailed. I’m still in the process of going through the learning materials again to deepen my understanding and reinforce what I’ve learned. Overall, the session was valuable and gave me a good foundation, but I would have benefited from more time to digest and practice the concepts covered.
The training was very informative and The trainer had a huge amount of knowledge and explained everything very clearly. I feel like I have a great deal of knowledge for assessments now leaving the course
The course was useful and informative.
15/16
Great course, clear concise information and a great start at looking at ADHD
Incredibly informative, essential and well organised course. Thank you.
Informative
My 22 year old son was recently screened for ADHD so my personal experience of this neurological disorder has been very enlightening. In my clinical practice, I also have been assessing and treatment more and more people with ADHD and ASD. The traineri delivered the course well, good pace and breakout rooms were helpful.
A very comprehensive training to be confident in ADHD Assessment
confident in ADHD assessment following training
Excellent course
Comprehensive course with a good balance of core material and activities which generated opportunities for learning. Admin process from booking to receiving the material was smooth and efficient. Really helpful tips around career guidance.
Very informative, engaging sessions
Great course
This ADHD Course has been very inspirational and educating.
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
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about different medications and how they can help individuals , especially as I am not a prescriber. In my job role I support people to understand their medications so this has been immensely helpful. Thank you for an interesting course.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this course, it's comprehensive, a lot of information in one day but the structure of the course, the knowledge sharing, and course delivery was excellent. I look forward to being able to use this, for my own professional development, but, also, so that I can hopefully improve outcomes, and quality of life for others. Thank you.
Great Speaker ( The trainer) , very knowledgeable and informative. Session was interactive.
Excellent session, particularly enjoyed the session after lunch where theory was put into practice.
Amazing Training
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.
Very interactive and informative course which has given me tools and knowledge to assess and diagnose ADHD
Fabulous course, very well delivered, informative and practical. Loved The trainer's enthusiasm and sincerity.
Thank you for delivering a very thorough course, teaching was great, at a pace where we were able to ask questions and get answers at any point during the presentation.
very detailed and learnt a great deaol
Excellent course. Great interaction and case studies.
The trainer delivered this brilliant course and he was able to answer our questions
I recently completed the ADHD pharmacological management course from ADHD LLC, and it was incredibly insightful and practical. A special thanks to The trainer for clearly explaining the different dose titration strategies — his approach made a complex topic easy to understand. The course has boosted my confidence in managing ADHD in adults and provided valuable tools for safe and effective prescribing. Highly recommended!
RMN degree and DIVA Trained (ADHD assessor)
Great
Great course thank you Dr Kav
GREAT AWARENESS
Outstanding course, trainer very knowledgeable and engaging, would recommend for anyone wanting to gain a recognised qualification that will enable the clinician to work as a qualified ADHD assessor.
I really enjoyed attending the assessment and diagnosis course for ADHD. The course is well structured and insightful. I am keen to put my learning into practice now.
The trainer was extremely knowledgeable and patient. I feel much more able to work with clients with ADHD and able to pass on my own knowledge within the University I work in as well as with my supervisees in private practice. I highly recommend this course to anyone passionate about mental health and specifically working with ADHD =.
Very informative course
excellent course
The course covered the scope of what I wanted to learn and much more, participation in the course inspired me to look into non medical prescribing. I would definitely recommend this diagnostic course to anyone interested in extending their ADHD knowledge base and I look forward to participating in the upcoming management course.
Great course. Great blend of theory and practice. Highly recommend it.
great course and very engaging
The course has given me a strong foundation in adult ADHD assessment. I still have more to learn but it's been a valuable starting point
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.
Great course, felt engaged throughout which is very rare! The content will definitely be valuable to my clinical practice.
A very engaging, thorough and informative course.
Great session! I appreciate how practical and clear the deep dive was, especially how the DIVA tool connects childhood and adult ADHD.
Really enjoyable session learning about titrating,pharmacology and pharmacokinetics. The trainer provided excellent information and overall great resources were provided. I have walked away happy and confident in being able to at least titrate doses and take into other factors into my overall prescribing decision.
I attended the assessor course for ADHD with The trainer. He was brilliant, thorough and delivered the course smoothly.
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.
Fantastic
Great and very informative
good course.
Content was excellent, practical and demonstrative elements brought subject to life with context and addressed challenges. The trainer was excellent
Excellent teaching
Amazing! Very enjoyable and informative. Thank you so much for hosting the course as it really gives me a better understanding around adhd diagnosis and management and my interest in it has grown immensely, would definitely like to pursue a career in it :)
Great course. Loads of information. The trainer is brilliant and his experience is invaluable. I feel if the DIVA tool was used throughout the training from the get go it would of been more helpful. The actual use of it at the end was a bit rushed. Overall I feel the course is excellent.
Great course. An informative tutor who guided through latest assessment tools.
Excellent course again. In depth, detailed and engaging. The trainer is a brilliant tutor
This is a brilliant course and was taught very well by The trainer, he was able to explain things and listened to us when we had questions. We left the training satisfied and well informed.
Very useful enjoyable course
Qualified
Excellent delivery
Amazing training.
The training was clear . I gained new skills
A very informative course on ADHD and assessment by a knowledgeable experienced clinician. Thank you!
Thorough course
The trainer was excellent, very knowledgeable
excellent depth of context
Good ADHD clinical course
Great Course , I thoroughly enjoyed the course. Educative and eye opening. Even emotional at times.
very insightful and useful
excellent course
The course was informative and interactive , the trainer was also supportive and patiently went into details if needed.
Great course
I benefited so much from the two courses completed with Private ADHD. Both have been brilliant at equipping me with a robust and detailed knowledge base on the diagnostic criteria, process of assessment and qualifications to be able to assess ADHD (in addition to Autism and Dyslexia) within an MDT - and with detailed insight into medication and management of ADHD, essential to the services I provide as a Neuroaffirming Consultant and Mentor: pre and post diagnostic support to individuals of all ages, and to families and schools.
Extremely informative and enjoyed learning about the nice guidelines alongside the different medications individually. The case studies were extremely powerful.
Interesting and informative course which has increased my understanding of ADHD, DIVA assessment and diagnosis based on DSM-5 criteria and guidelines.
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.
I would highly recommend the course. The trainer was brilliant! All the content was clear and concise. Full details explained and easily understood. Great examples, tips and support on how to manage your own clinical assessments and how to deliver and carry out the process. Thank You!
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.
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