Right to Choose & Shared Care for ADHD, explained
Your complete UK guide to getting assessed and staying medicated in 2026: how Right to Choose works, the real waiting times, the costs, and every route available to you.
Last updated: July 2026 · Written for adults in England seeking an ADHD diagnosis or struggling to keep their prescription.
In short
NHS Right to Choose lets an adult in England ask their GP to refer them to an approved provider for an NHS-funded ADHD assessment, often faster than the local NHS route.
It covers the assessment and, with some providers, titration. It does not guarantee that your GP will take over your prescription afterwards. That handover is called shared care, and it is voluntary. Your GP can refuse.
If they do, you either stay with an NHS-funded Right to Choose provider where available, or pay privately for ongoing prescriptions. Attention to Health provides private adult ADHD assessments and ongoing medication management from £30 per month.
Right to Choose vs Shared Care
Right to Choose
Getting assessed
A legal right under the NHS Constitution for England. If your GP agrees that an ADHD assessment is clinically appropriate, you can choose an approved NHS-funded provider instead of waiting for your local service.
- Applies to adults in England
- Requires a GP referral
- Covers assessment and sometimes titration
- Not available in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
Shared Care
Who prescribes afterwards
A voluntary agreement where your GP takes over prescribing and monitoring after a specialist has diagnosed you and established a stable medication dose.
- Your GP is not required to accept it
- It can follow either NHS or private diagnosis
- The specialist usually continues periodic reviews
- The agreement can later be withdrawn
Three routes
| Route | Who pays? | Time to assessment | Ongoing prescription | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHS standard local route | NHS, free | Often 2–8 years | Via NHS once stable | Waits are measured in years and some lists are closed. |
| NHS Right to Choose | NHS, free | Weeks to many months | Depends on provider and shared-care arrangements | Funding limits, provider restrictions and separate titration waits. |
| Private care | Self-funded | Usually weeks | Attention to Health can continue from £30/month | You pay for the assessment and medication management. |
Waiting times vary by provider and NHS area. Check the current position before choosing a route.
Route timeline comparison
The longest delay can come after diagnosis, while you wait to begin medication titration.
Why medication is the bottleneck
Demand has grown faster than prescriber capacity
More adults are seeking ADHD treatment, but the number of specialist prescribers has not increased at the same rate.
Medication requires careful monitoring
Titration normally involves several appointments to select medication, adjust the dose and monitor physical health.
Medication shortages disrupt treatment
UK shortages have caused delays, treatment-plan changes and switches between medications depending on availability.
Assessment services expanded more quickly
Some providers increased assessment capacity without increasing their prescribing services at the same pace.
Right to Choose waiting times in 2026
Waiting times vary by provider and by the Integrated Care Board funding your home area. Figures change frequently, so check the latest provider information before requesting a referral.
| Provider | Assessment wait | Medication wait |
|---|---|---|
| Care ADHD | No wait | Approximately 13 weeks |
| Skylight Psychiatry | Approximately 2 weeks | 12–16 weeks |
| Harley Street Mental Health | No wait where unrestricted | 16–20 weeks |
| ProblemShared | 3–5 weeks | Up to 40 weeks |
| Clinical Partners | Approximately 8 weeks | 35–44 weeks |
| ADHD 360 | Approximately 26–34 weeks | No secondary titration queue |
| Psychiatry-UK | Approximately 37 weeks | Approximately 43 weeks |
| The Owl Centre | 26–52 weeks | 52+ weeks |
Right to Choose is still a legal entitlement, but access is becoming less predictable.
NHS commissioners are introducing new funding models, guide prices and activity limits as they try to manage rapidly increasing demand for ADHD assessment and treatment.
Some Integrated Care Boards have limited the number of assessments they will fund, while patients in certain areas have faced provider restrictions or difficulty moving from diagnosis into medication.
Right to Choose remains worth considering, but provider availability, funding and medication access may differ substantially from one area to another.
Most people do not pay privately forever
Once your medication is stable, your specialist can ask your GP to enter a Shared Care Agreement. If your GP agrees, they take over NHS prescribing while your specialist continues periodic reviews.
For many patients, both private care and Right to Choose can eventually lead to the same destination: NHS prescribing under shared care.
Shared care is voluntary. A GP practice can decline it, particularly where the diagnosing provider is not commissioned by the NHS. You should hope for shared care, but also understand what your alternative would be.
What happens if your GP refuses?
Your provider may continue prescribing
An NHS-funded Right to Choose provider can often continue prescribing as an NHS service, subject to its contract and your local ICB’s funding position.
Your specialist must continue prescribing
You normally pay the provider’s prescribing or management fee, along with the full private cost of the medication.
Private medication-cost comparison
| Provider | Assessment | Ongoing management | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attention to Health | £900 | From £30/month | Includes two free reviews each year and continued prescribing if shared care is declined. |
| ADHD 360 | £950 | Approximately £100/month average | Published range approximately £35–£250. |
| Psychiatry-UK | £950 | £25 per prescription plus annual review | Medication charged separately. |
| Clinical Partners | £895 | £75 repeat prescription plus follow-ups | Medication charged separately. |
| The ADHD Centre | £695 / £1,095 | £80 per repeat prescription | Online and in-person pricing differs. |
| CARE ADHD | £399 | Via pharmacy or NHS routes | Separate titration package available. |
Medication costs are separate unless stated. Provider prices and service terms can change.
Fast private assessment, shared-care support and a safety net if your GP says no.
Attention to Health is a private, CQC-regulated clinic. We are not currently a Right to Choose provider, so assessments are self-funded. Our role is to offer a fast route to assessment and treatment, with fair ongoing pricing if NHS shared care is unavailable.
Assessed in weeks, not years
A full adult ADHD assessment for £900, with a written report normally completed within 2–4 weeks.
A safety net if shared care falls through
We support your shared-care request. If your GP declines, ongoing prescribing continues from £30 per month, including two free review appointments each year.
Start with a smaller commitment
Book a £75, 30-minute expert consultation to discuss your options before committing to a full assessment.
Frequently asked questions about Right to Choose and Shared Care for ADHD
What’s the difference between Right to Choose and shared care?
Does Right to Choose cover medication or only the assessment?
My GP has refused shared care. What can I do?
Why do GPs refuse shared care?
Can a GP withdraw shared care after agreeing to it?
How long is the Right to Choose wait in 2026?
Can a private diagnosis lead to NHS-funded medication?
Is Attention to Health a Right to Choose provider?
Can I move from private care to NHS prescriptions?
Get assessed in weeks and stay medicated from £30/month.
CQC-regulated · NICE NG87 & UKAAN standards · 4.9/5 from 500+ adults assessed