ADHD & ASD Right to Choose Update

In recent years there has been a significant increase in ASD/ ADHD referrals to
independent providers, through NHS Right to Choose (RTC). This is placing significant
financial pressures on the ICB.
To help manage this financial pressure and in line with NHSE guidance, the ICB has
been agreeing ‘Indicative Activity Plan’ budgets with our major independent providers
in 2025/26.
In terms of working within the indicative budgets, we are asking providers to:

• prioritise patients requiring ongoing treatment management (e.g. ADHD
  titration and reviews)
• Pause or stagger new bookings of ASD/ ADHD assessments, where it is
  indicated they may potentially exceed their indicative budget for 2025/26.
  As we come into the final quarter of this financial year, an increasing number of
  providers are reaching a position where they will either need to pause or increase wait
  times for new assessments, to stay within their indicative budget.
  The providers currently affected by this pause or increase of waiting times for
  new assessments are highlighted with a * in the next section list.
  We have also put a FAQ on our ICB website to help explain the approach to patients
  and other stakeholders https://leicesterleicestershireandrutland.icb.nhs.uk/elementor-27068/
  Finally, please note referral can still be made to all providers and we will be ‘reset’
  budgets with all providers for the new 2026/27 financial year. This should mean that
  most providers that have currently paused booking of new assessments, can
  recommence these from April 2026 onwards.
  

CYP ADHD Provider	Assessment	Treatment & Management	Further Information
Community Assessment Therapy Services	Yes	No	NHS Right to Choose Autism and ADHD assessments | Community Assessment Therapy Services
Evolve Psychology	Yes	No	https://evolvepsycholoy.org/
Psicon	Yes	Yes	https://www.psicon.co.uk/nhs/patients#introduction
Oakdale Centre	Yes	Yes	https://www.psicon.co.uk/nhs/patients#introduction
Clinical Partners	Yes	Yes	https://www.clinical-partners.co.uk/nhsservices/right-to-choose
Help4 Psychology	Yes	No	NHS Right To Choose For ADHD & Autism Assessments
Held Health	Yes	Yes	Right to Choose CYP Autism (ASD) & ADHD assessments with Held Health in support of the NHS — Held Health
The Owl Centre	Yes	Yes	Right to Choose services The Owl Centre UK

ASD Assessment	CYP	Adults	Further information
Axia (Asd)	No	Yes	Axia ASD – Cheshire Autism Spectrum Disorder and Aspergers Diagnosis – Autistic Diagnostic Service
Clinical Partners	Yes	Yes	Right to choose ADHD & autism assessments | Clinical Partners
Community Assessment Therapy Services	Yes	No	NHS Right to Choose Autism and ADHD assessments | Community Assessment Therapy Services
Help4 Psychology	Yes	No	NHS Right To Choose For ADHD & Autism Assessments
Kirsop-Taylor Healthcare Ltd	Yes	Yes	Right to Choose Page (New) – KT Healthcare
Oakdale Centre	Yes	Yes	Neurodevelopmental Service (Autism/ADHD/Medication) – Oakdale Centre
Paloma Health	Yes	No	https://www.paloma.health/services/children/autism-assessment
ProblemShared	Yes	Yes	Right to Choose | Autism & ADHD assessments | ProblemShared
Psicon	Yes	No	Right to Choose UK | NHS Referral Process
Provide Wellbeing	Yes	Yes	Provide Wellbeing | Self-Pay & NHS Services in Essex | Wellbeing
Psychiatry UK	No	Yes	Right To Choose ADHD | Psych-UK Limited
RTN Mental Health Solutions	Yes	Yes	Right to Choose Autism & ADHD Assessments – RTN Mental Health
Skylight Psychiatry	Yes	No	NHS Right to Choose for Adult Autism Assessments
Held Health	Yes	No	Right to Choose CYP Autism (ASD) & ADHD assessments with Held Health in support of the NHS — Held Health
The Owl Centre	Yes	Yes	Right to Choose services The Owl Centre UK

Important supporting information:

• Referrals to independent assessment only services through Right to Choose,
  will not give any subsequent quicker route into local treatment services, if
  required.
• Practices should be aware that by referring to an independent provider through
  Right to Choose for ADHD assessment & treatment, then they may also be
  asked to enter into shared care arrangements for prescribed medication.
• If a patient has been referred to a service, but the first appointment waiting time
  is over 18 weeks, then if requested, patient choice guidance allows them to be
  referred instead to another provider (see section 4 of NHS Choice Framework
  guidance in link at start of this article). However, the referral to the previous
  provider should be cancelled as they should not be on two waiting list for the
  same service.
• If a patient wishes to be referred to a provider not on the above list, please
  contact the ICB so we can check the company hold a relevant NHS ‘qualifying’
  contract?