Right to Choose

Right to Choose GP letter template for an ADHD assessment

To ask your GP for an NHS Right to Choose ADHD assessment in England, tell them clearly that you want a Right to Choose referral and name a provider that offers NHS ADHD assessments under the scheme. You can say it in the appointment or hand over a short written request. This page gives a free, copy-paste letter and a spoken script you can edit. This is information only, not medical advice, and your GP and the provider confirm eligibility.

Information only, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. This is an administrative request to start a referral, not a clinical document. Right to Choose is an England-only right. Your GP and the chosen provider confirm eligibility and make the referral.

Before you use it: two quick checks

1. Check you are likely eligible with the Right to Choose eligibility checker. The route is for adults in England, for a routine referral, who are not already in an active NHS pathway for the same condition.
2. Pick a provider that currently offers NHS ADHD assessments under Right to Choose and has an open list. Our guide to finding a provider covers what to check. Many providers have their own referral form your GP can complete, so look for that too.

What to say to your GP (spoken script)

If you would rather ask in the appointment, keep it short and clear. Something like:

"I would like to be referred for an adult ADHD assessment using my NHS Right to Choose rights. I have looked into it and I would like to be referred to [provider name], which offers NHS ADHD assessments under Right to Choose. Could you make that referral, please?"

If the GP is unsure about Right to Choose, you can add that it is a legal right in England to choose an NHS-contracted provider for a routine first appointment, and ask that your preference for that named provider is recorded on your notes.

Copy-paste letter template

Replace anything in square brackets with your own details, then print it, email it, or hand it in at the practice. Keep a copy for yourself.

Dear Dr [GP surname],

I am writing to request a referral for an adult ADHD assessment under my NHS Right to Choose rights.

I understand that, as a patient in England registered with this practice, I have a legal right to choose which provider I am referred to for a first routine outpatient appointment, including an ADHD assessment, where the provider holds an NHS standard contract for that service.

I would like to be referred to [provider name], which offers NHS ADHD assessments under Right to Choose. [If the provider has a referral form, add: The provider has a referral form, which I have attached / can forward to the practice.]

For reference, the difficulties I experience include [briefly note 2 to 3 examples, for example: long-standing problems with focus and attention, organisation, and restlessness that affect my work and daily life]. These have been present for a long time and affect more than one area of my life.

Please could you confirm that the referral has been made, and let me know if you need any further information from me.

Thank you for your help.

Yours sincerely,
[Your full name]
[Date of birth]
[NHS number, if known]
[Address]
[Date]

How to fill it in

• Provider name. Name the NHS-contracted Right to Choose provider you have chosen, and attach their referral form if they have one.
• Your examples. Two or three plain examples of how attention, organisation or restlessness affect your daily life across more than one setting. You are giving context, not trying to steer a diagnosis.
• Your details. Full name, date of birth, address, and your NHS number if you have it, so the practice can match it to your record quickly.

A template helps the request be clear; it does not and should not try to influence whether you are diagnosed. Only a qualified clinician can assess and diagnose ADHD, based on an honest account of your experiences.

After you send it

Your GP makes the referral, the provider confirms eligibility and adds you to their list, and they contact you about the assessment. While you wait, our guide on how to prepare for an ADHD assessment covers what to gather. To compare the routes again before you commit, see Right to Choose vs private vs NHS and the cost and wait across all three routes.

Frequently asked questions

This page is information only, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. ADHD can only be diagnosed by a registered clinician. If you are outside England, ask your GP about the NHS referral route where you live, which is still free.