Right to choose

Choose what's right for you.

We will shortly be opening our Right to Choose (RTC) service for adults wanting an Autism or ADHD assessment.

The RTC principle is enshrined in the NHS charter and gives you the Right to Choose an appropriate healthcare provider if your GP agrees you need to be referred to a specialist.

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Choose ProblemShared with your local

NHS

What is NHS Right to Choose?

If you are registered with a GP surgery in England and are referred by a GP to a consultant or specialist in mental health, you have the legal Right to Choose which organisation (qualified provider) to whom you are referred, as long as that organisation is providing that service in another part of England.

This allows the NHS to better manage its waiting lists and for you to be seen faster.

You can follow this link to read more on the NHS website.

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How can I exercise my Right to Choose as a Client?

Autism — Launching May 2023

Adult

  1. Click on the Register interest button below and provide us with your details.
  2. We will then add your name to a mailing list and send you a confirmation email.
  3. Once our RTC service opens, we will email to let you know the steps you will need to follow in order to complete the enrolment process.

ADHD — Launching later in 2023

Adult

We will be launching our ADHD RTC service later in 2023. Continue to check this section of the website for future updates on how to enrol.

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Exclusion Criteria

How does your GP make a Right to Choose Referral?

To secure an appointment with ProblemShared, your GP will need to:

1. Write a cover letter

Once you are registered with us and the service has opened, we will provide you with a letter template to take to your GP for them to complete.

2. Provide your medical history

Your GP will also need to provide a brief summary of your medical history in the form of a Summary Care Record. This is standardised. They simply need to print out the summary page of your electronic health record.

3. Review your forms

Your GP will need to review your completed screening forms (AQ-10 for Autism, ASRS for ADHD) before they can make their referral. You will need to submit these forms as part of your enrolment.

Why choose ProblemShared?

ProblemShared are different from other providers in that we offer strength-based, person-centred assessments. We recognise people’s strengths and detail the challenges they face, rather than focusing solely on their perceived weaknesses. In addition, we provide individualised recommendations about how our clients can make positive changes to improve their everyday lives, whether at school, work or at home. Further, our remote assessment service ensures the assessment and management process is convenient, discreet, and is done in a setting of your choice.

We are currently one of the UK’s largest providers of neurodevelopmental assessment and support services. We are a qualified NHS provider, are CQC registered, and operate short wait lists, ensuring you access the support you need quickly and efficiently.

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Why is ProblemShared eligible for Right to Choose?

ProblemShared is eligible to offer RTC because we have contracts with NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB), for both adult ADHD and Autism services. This means we can provide the same service for any client that is registered with a GP in England.

ProblemShared are also regulated by the Care Quality Commission which means that we provide consistently safe, high-quality, compassionate care as well as meeting the highest level of legal and regulatory standards.

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Ellie Greenhow Neurodevelopmental Clinical Lead

As clinicians, this client centred practice sits at the heart of everything we aim for at ProblemShared. This, combined with a robust and gold standard assessment process, that is equally as valuable as an in-person appointment, supports individuals in a journey that is less stressful, promoting higher levels of engagement.

Frequently asked questions

How can I be referred under Right to Choose?

You will need to speak to your GP and request a referral under RTC. If they agree that you may have ADHD or Autism and need an assessment, you have a legal right to opt for a provider of your choice, such as ProblemShared.

What do I do if my GP will not refer me to ProblemShared under Right to Choose?

If your GP is refusing to make a referral for a non-clinical reason (for example, due to funding concerns), you can ask them to read the NHS information governing patient choice.

Does Right to Choose cover Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Currently, RTC only currently covers England.

If I am diagnosed with ADHD by ProblemShared, are you able to prescribe medication?

Not at this time. This is something we are looking at offering in the future. Please continue to check our website for updates.

Does Right to Choose cover other issues such as support with eating disorders or depression?

Not currently. Our RTC Autism service will open in May 2023. We plan on opening our RTC ADHD service later in 2023. For issues that aren’t related to ADHD or Autism you will need to speak to your GP for further advice.

What if I do not receive a diagnosis, will I have to pay?

No. Your assessment is paid for by the NHS regardless of the outcome.

Can I get help for my child under the Right to Choose scheme?

Yes. If you are a parent or caregiver of the child being referred. We plan on opening our Paediatric (Under 18s) RTC later in 2023.

How will I know if ProblemShared have received my referral and if my application has been successful?

Once you have registered interest, we will store your name and email address. Once we open the service you will then receive an email which will let you know how to complete enrolment for an assessment.

Can I self-refer myself under Right to Choose?

No, the referral must come directly from your GP. ProblemShared are not currently seeing clients on a self-pay basis.

Can I receive Psychoeducation or Talk Therapy with ProblemShared?

At ProblemShared we believe in helping clients throughout their diagnosis journey, for this reason we will be offering Talk Therapy and Psychoeducation sessions as an option later this year, as an additional cost to the client that will not be covered through RTC.

I would like my child to be assessed for ADHD or Autism but they don’t want to, what should I do?

If your child is a teenager of consenting age, then you cannot make them undertake an assessment against their will. The consenting age of a child is determined through the Gillick Competency which is not determined by age, but is used in a wider context to help assess whether a child has the maturity to make their own decisions and to understand the implications of those decisions.
Right to choose

Choose what's right for you.

We will shortly be opening our Right to Choose (RTC) service for adults wanting an Autism or ADHD assessment.

The RTC principle is enshrined in the NHS charter and gives you the Right to Choose an appropriate healthcare provider if your GP agrees you need to be referred to a specialist.

Woman standing
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