Frequently Asked Questions

Right-to-Choose is an NHS rule in England that allows you to choose which NHS-approved provider carries out your ADHD assessment. Instead of waiting for your local NHS service, you can ask your GP to refer you to a different provider that has an NHS contract, which often reduces waiting times.

A Right-to-Choose ADHD assessment with Mentalwell typically includes: Completion of detailed pre-assessment questionnaires to understand your symptoms and history A comprehensive online consultation with a specialist psychiatrist Use of standardised diagnostic tools and clinical interviews aligned with NICE guidelines A clear outcome with a diagnostic report and recommendations ADHD is diagnosed based on a full clinical evaluation rather than a single test. Our approach ensures all relevant areas are considered, including how symptoms affect your daily life.

To be eligible for an NHS Right to Choose ADHD assessment with Mentalwell, you must meet the following criteria:Be registered with a GP practice in England.Be aged 18 or over.Have been referred for an ADHD assessment by your GP.Be able to provide valid government-issued photo identification before your assessment.Be able to participate fully in an assessment conducted in English.You are able to attend remote video appointments and have access to suitable technology.You are willing to provide supporting information when required (for example, school history, informant reports, or previous records).In addition, the assessment must be clinically appropriate and safe to complete. Unfortunately, we may not be able to accept referrals if:You have a significant intellectual disability (IQ below 70) or severe developmental delay.You have a neurological condition, traumatic brain injury, or history of brain surgery that significantly affects cognitive functioning.You are currently experiencing psychosis or have experienced a psychotic episode within the last six months.You require urgent or emergency mental health treatment.You pose a significant risk to yourself or others, have made a suicide attempt or suicide plan within the last six months, or are currently engaging in active self-harm.You are currently receiving treatment for an eating disorder or are awaiting treatment from a specialist eating disorder service.You have been discharged from a specialist eating disorder service within the last six months.You have active alcohol or substance dependence, or are currently receiving treatment for substance addiction.You are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, subject to a Community Treatment Order (CTO), or detained in another secure or custodial setting.You are currently serving a prison sentence, on temporary release from custody, or subject to circumstances that would prevent a routine outpatient assessment.You are a serving member of the Armed Forces.If you are unsure whether you meet the eligibility criteria, please contact our team. We will be happy to review your circumstances and advise whether a referral is likely to be suitable before you ask your GP to refer you.

Right-to-Choose covers the episode of care, which can include the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning. Not all RTC providers offer medication, but this is offered at Mentalwell.Where medication is clinically appropriate, treatment may begin under our specialist team. Ongoing prescribing arrangements, including shared care agreements, are subject to your GP’s agreement and local NHS policies.

Start by downloading our GP Referral Form and ADHD Self-Reporting tool from this page. Complete both and take them to your GP appointment, or send them to your practice in advance. At your appointment, simply let your GP know that you would like to be referred to Mentalwell for an ADHD assessment under NHS Right to Choose. Your GP cannot refuse a valid Right to Choose request. It is your legal right under the NHS Constitution, and your GP is obligated to support it if they agree that a referral is clinically appropriate. If your GP is unfamiliar with the Right to Choose process, that is completely fine. Everything they need to make the referral is included in the form itself. They just need to complete and sign it, then email it to us at mentalwell.referrals@nhs.net or submit it through the e-RS.

Yes,  in most cases, you can switch as long as your local service hasn’t started your assessment yet. You can ask your GP to withdraw the original referral and submit a new one under Right-to-Choose.

We're currently accepting NHS Right-to-Choose referrals for adult ADHD assessments with some of the shortest wait times in England. Once we receive your GP referral, we aim to send your pre-assessment forms within 1–2 working days. As soon as those forms are returned to us, we'll invite you to book your assessment appointment, typically within a further 1–2 days. That means most patients move from referral to booked appointment in under two weeks — compared to waiting lists of 3 months to over a year at many other providers.

Your GP just needs to complete and sign the Referral Letter (available below), and instructions are included in the letter itself, so your GP won't need to look anything up or do anything beyond that.

If our clinician concludes that ADHD isn't the right diagnosis for you, you'll receive a detailed letter explaining their findings and the reasoning behind the decision. We'll also include recommendations for next steps, which we'll share with your GP so they can continue to support you.

We are not able to accept medication‑only referrals, as it would not be clinically appropriate for us to prescribe for someone we did not assess and diagnose within our own service.

Yes. Shared care is the normal final stage of the Right to Choose pathway — assessment, then titration, then handover of prescribing to your GP. There's no fixed waiting period: once your clinician confirms you're stable on your medication, we start the shared care process with your GP. Your GP needs to agree in principle.GPs aren't obliged to accept, and if yours declines, we'll simply continue prescribing for you.Full details are on our shared care page.