In most cases when your GP refers you for a neurodevelopmental assessment, you have the legal right to select a third-party provider to oversee your assessment. This is known as your Right to Choose; it allows you to pick the provider that best meets your individual needs and can help you get access to an ADHD or autism assessment faster.
Private companies that wish to become a Right to Choose provider (such as ProblemShared) must be located in England and be fully qualified. This includes both NHS and select private hospitals, clinical teams, consultants, and named healthcare providers.
When deciding on your preferred Right to Choose provider, you may consider basing your decision on:
- Location (i.e. a local, in-person assessment, or an online assessment)
- The company’s waiting times
- The services they provide (i.e. ADHD or autism assessments)
- Your previous experiences
- Your GP’s recommendation.
When did Right to Choose start?
In 2014, the UK government established the legal right for patients in England to have authority over own their mental health treatment.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Right to Choose has become a means of alleviating pressure on the NHS, allowing the health service to outsource autism and ADHD assessments to partnered private services, reducing wait times for patients without compromising their quality of care.
How is Right to Choose funded?
Neurodevelopmental assessments for ADHD and autism administered by Right to Choose providers are funded by the NHS, which in turn is funded by the government through public taxation.
How can you benefit from Right to Choose?
- Right to Choose equips you with a sense of ownership. It gives you more control over your own care and allows you to decide where it comes from according to your unique preferences.
- Right to Choose may help you secure care more quickly. Receiving an assessment for autism or ADHD can be delayed due to long NHS waiting lists, but exercising your Right to Choose often speeds up the process of accessing support.
- Right to Choose expands your pool of options. The NHS is working hard to give every person the opportunity to make informed decisions about their own mind health journey. Right to Choose is a central part of this work, allowing you take a more active role in the provision of your care.
How can you access ProblemShared services through Right to Choose?
If you’re seeking an autism or ADHD diagnosis, it can feel overwhelming when faced with a host of unknowns. But choosing ProblemShared through Right to Choose is a good place to start.
On our Right to Choose page, you can find out more about the services we offer, our current wait times, and a list of other helpful FAQs.
We’ve also written extensively on Right to Choose, including topics such as:
- How to pick your Right to Choose provider
- How to get a Right to Choose referral from your GP
- What happens after I receive an autism or ADHD diagnosis through Right to Choose?
Please visit our Resources section for more information on Right to Choose.
Why choose ProblemShared?
We are currently one of the UK’s largest providers of neurodevelopmental assessment and support services, and the only Right to Choose provider to offer post-diagnostic support options.
We are a CQC-registered, fully qualified NHS Right to Choose provider. We recognise people’s strengths and analyse the challenges they face, rather than focusing solely on any perceived weaknesses.
Our remote assessment service can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, making the process convenient and discreet.
For more information on our services, please visit our Right to Choose page.
