What is the Right to Choose?
Patients have the right to choose their provider for an ADHD or ASD assessment under the NHS Right to Choose scheme. Our GPs will provide the referral to the patient or send it directly to their chosen provider upon request.
If the patient has any questions about their appointment, they must contact the provider directly. RTC providers are typically private companies with NHS contracts.
Choosing a Right to Choose Provider
Our GPs cannot select a provider on the patient’s behalf. Patients must:
- Research their options.
- Choose a provider that meets their needs.
- Inform the practice of their choice so that we can advise on the next steps.
A useful resource for finding RTC providers is ADHD UK: https://adhduk.co.uk
Referrals
Since each provider has its own referral process, our GPs cannot complete different forms for every provider. However, most require the same core information. To streamline this process:
- Patients will receive an PATCHS questionnaire to complete.
- This will allow us to automatically collect the necessary information for the referral.
- If the provider needs additional details, they can request them directly from the practice or the patient.
Diagnosis and Follow-up
- Most RTC providers operate remotely and conduct online assessments.
- NHS services may not accept these diagnoses, and additional assessments may be required before transitioning into NHS care.
- The RTC provider is responsible for arranging any transfer of care into the NHS. Some providers claim they cannot do this, but this is incorrect and leads to unnecessary delays and additional work for our team.
Prescriptions and Shared Care Agreements
If an RTC provider diagnoses a patient with ADHD, they may recommend medication. However:
- ADHD medications are specialist-prescribed drugs, meaning GPs cannot prescribe them.
- The prescribing responsibility remains with the specialist service.
- RTC providers may request a Shared Care Agreement, but we will not enter into these due to:
- Patient safety concerns – Each RTC provider has different prescribing protocols.
- Service continuity risks – If an RTC provider ceases trading or loses its NHS contract, prescriptions may be suddenly discontinued.
Patients should consider this before choosing a provider and ensure their RTC provider will continue prescribing any recommended medications.
Next Steps for Patients
- Step 1: We will send the patient a PATCHS questionnaire to complete.
- Step 2: Once they have chosen a provider, they must inform us so we can process the referral accordingly.
Summary: Key Points to Consider Before Choosing an RTC Provider
| Topic | Key Information |
| Choosing a provider | Patients must research and select their own provider. A good starting point is ADHD UK. |
| Referral process | We will send an PATCHS questionnaire to collect necessary details. |
| Diagnosis acceptance | NHS services may not accept RTC diagnoses without reassessment. |
| NHS transfer responsibility | The RTC provider must arrange any transition into NHS care. Some may claim they cannot, but this is not true. |
| Prescriptions | Our GPs cannot prescribe ADHD medication. Prescriptions remain the responsibility of the RTC provider. |
| Shared Care Agreements | We will not enter into a Shared Care Agreement due to patient safety concerns and service continuity risks. |
If patients have further questions, they should speak with us before making a decision.