Right to Choose is still a legal right in England. But since mid-2025, a number of ICBs have capped or paused new Right to Choose ADHD assessments, so whether a provider can take you on depends on where you live.
What a cap is
An ICB pays for the Right to Choose assessments of patients registered in its area. Some ICBs have agreed a set number of assessments with each provider for the year, or a monthly limit. When the limit is reached, the provider may stop accepting new referrals from that area for a while.
NHS England's 2026/27 payment guidance also set guide prices for assessments, for example around £850 for a face-to-face adult ADHD assessment and £700 for an online one.
A cap is not a refusal
A GP can still refer you. The question is whether the provider you choose has space for patients from your area. That's why it's worth asking the provider before your GP appointment.
What you can do
- Check your area. ADHD UK tracks which areas are capping, based on Freedom of Information requests.
- Ask several providers. Caps usually apply per provider, so one may have space when another doesn't.
- Ask your ICB in writing for its current position and which providers can accept referrals (find your ICB on nhs.uk).
- Get on a list. If every option is capped, ask your GP to refer you to the route with the shortest wait, and ask for support while you wait.
Sources: NHS England patient choice guidance; ADHD UK: Right to Choose changes 2026.
Related guides
- Right to Choose ADHD letter template for your GP
- ADHD assessment waiting times for adults in England
- My GP refused ADHD shared care: what now?
- Right to Choose ADHD in Birmingham and Solihull
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