Adult Autism & ADHD Assessment

There has been a significant rise in adults seeking assessment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Increased coverage in the media and on social media has helped many people recognise traits in themselves, and we understand that getting clarity, and potentially a diagnosis, can be life changing.

Because so many people are now coming forward, NHS waiting times for assessment have grown very long. The NHS does not currently have enough capacity to meet this growing demand. We share your frustration with the wait, and this page aims to set out, honestly and clearly, what your options are and what you can expect from us.

Before requesting a referral, it is helpful to read about the recognised signs and symptoms. The NHS has good plain-English guidance:

• ADHD in Adults: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/adhd-adults/
• Signs of Autism in Adults: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/signs-in-adults/

If, after reading these, you feel that an assessment may be appropriate, please continue to read the information below which will explain the process.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (the local NHS body that funds and oversees these services) has issued a recent update on ADHD and autism assessment, including the Right to Choose pathway.

In summary:

• People currently waiting for an assessment via Right to Choose will be assessed and prioritised according to need. This is not decided by your GP but the Right to Choose process.
• The same applies to new referrals received in 2026/27.
• New support services (adult neurodiversity community hubs and a digital/telephone advice service) are being introduced to help people while they wait, even before a formal diagnosis.

Please read the full update so you understand what this means for you: Key updates: Autism and ADHD Assessment Services :: NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight

Please note: These changes are made by the NHS at a regional and national level. They are not decisions made by Tadley Medical Partnership.

If you are registered with an NHS GP in England and your GP agrees a referral is clinically appropriate, you have a legal right (since 2018) to choose which NHS-approved provider carries out your assessment. The provider holds an NHS contract, and the assessment is funded by the NHS, you do not pay for it.

A useful way to think about it: Your GP writes the referral letter; you choose the envelope it goes in.

Right to Choose has historically allowed many patients to access an assessment more quickly than through the local NHS waiting list. As outlined above, the picture has changed considerably in our area but Right to Choose remains an option that some patients may still wish to consider.

Choosing a provider is something you need to do. Your GP cannot recommend specific providers - the choice is yours. The national charity ADHD UK keeps the most up-to-date list of NHS approved Right to Choose providers.

1. Visit the ADHD UK Right to Choose page: https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/
2. Scroll down to the table of providers. Each row in the table is a different NHS-approved provider, with some basic information about each.
3. When you find a provider that looks suitable, click 'More Details' on that row. A pop-up window will open with more information about that provider.
4. In the pop-up window you will see two links. The first link is the provider's general home page. The link you actually need is the second one - it will be labelled something like 'Company Website (ADHD TRC page)' or 'RTC page'. This takes you to the provider's specific Right to Choose information.
5. Read the provider's instructions carefully and follow them. Each provider has its own process. This usually means downloading some forms, completing the parts that are for the patient to fill in, and then bringing the completed paperwork to the surgery.

Each provider has different requirements. Some providers ask only for a basic referral form. Others ask for a covering letter, a screening questionnaire, or a self-assessment tool. 

Please: 

• Download every document the provider asks for
• Complete the patient sections fully and accurately
• Hand the completed paperwork in to the surgery (please do not assume we will be able to download and complete the forms for you - with the volume of these requests, we are not able to do this for every provider)

Once we have everything we need, we will process the referral. Missing or incomplete paperwork will delay things.

A diagnosis is one thing; medication is another

Some Right to Choose providers can both diagnose ADHD and prescribe medication. Others diagnose only - if medication is needed, you may need a separate referral to a service that can prescribe. Please check this on the provider's website before you choose. 

Shared Care Agreements

Once you are stable on medication, the specialist provider may ask Tadley Medical Partnership to take over prescribing under a Shared Care Agreement (SCA). We will only do this if it is clinically safe and only after the criteria in our prescribing policy are met, including at least 3 months of stability on a settled dose. The full policy is set out on our website under 'ADHD Prescribing Policy' (see link below). 

Funding policies are changing

National and local NHS funding for Right to Choose is changing rapidly. These decisions are made by NHS England and the Integrated Care Board - General Practice and Tadley Medical Partnership have no control over them. They are constantly changing and we will not always be updated immediately.

A diagnosis from a Right to Choose provider may not always transfer

If you later move to another area or change provider, a diagnosis made by a Right to Choose provider may not be automatically accepted, and the new local NHS service may want to carry out their own assessment.

Referral physical checks

Some providers request that the GP completes physical checks (such as height, weight and blood pressure) as part of the referral. These can be done in reception and recorded on your medical record. If an ECG is requested you will need to book an appointment at the practice for this. 

Private assessments and prescriptions

Some patients choose to pay for a private assessment. NHS services, including GPs, are not obliged to prescribe medication recommended by a private provider. Any decision to take over prescribing is made on clinical grounds in line with NHS guidance and our prescribing policy.

There are some situations in which Right to Choose is not available. The main exclusions are:

• You need urgent or emergency treatment
• You are already receiving NHS care for the same condition
• You are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
• You are in prison, on temporary release from prison, or in a secure setting (court, secure training centre, immigration removal centre, young offenders institution)
• You are a serving member of the Armed Forces (family members are not affected)

Whether you're waiting for an assessment, working through the Right to Choose process, or simply looking for information and support, the following services may help.

For adults in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

• Hampshire text support: text 'HANTS' to 85258 - free, confidential, 24/7
• Samaritans: call 116 123 (24/7)

In a crisis

• Call 111 for urgent NHS advice 
• Call 999 in an emergency

Information and peer support

• ADHD UK: adhduk.co.uk - charity run by people with ADHD, for people with ADHD.
• ADHD Foundation: adhdfoundation.org.uk
• National Autistic Society: autism.org.uk
• Autism Hampshire: autismhampshire.org.uk
• Waiting Well: waitingwell.co.uk - advice for people on neurodiversity waiting lists.
• Health for Teens: healthforteens.co.uk/health/neurodiversity/