From 1st April 2025, new limits have come into effect on how the NHS Right to Choose pathway can be used for ADHD assessments.
Under the updated rules, many private providers who previously accepted NHS referrals for ADHD assessments are now restricted to seeing only 25 to 40 patients per year per area. As a result, several providers have already reached capacity and are no longer accepting new referrals under this route.
For Parents:
If your child is waiting for an ADHD assessment through Right to Choose, we recommend:
- Contacting your GP to check if your referral is still valid or affected
- Being aware that waiting times may now be longer, even if you were already referred
- Exploring other available options if needed, including local NHS pathways or private assessments (if affordable). These could include a local NHS community paediatrics team, CAMHS, or an NHS mental health service that handles ADHD assessments.
- Being placed on a waiting list for an NHS-led assessment.
For Teachers and SENCOs:
If you’re supporting a student who is in the process of being referred for an ADHD assessment, it’s helpful to:
- Speak with parents to ensure they’re aware of the changes
- Encourage families to check with their GP about the status of their referral
- Continue offering classroom strategies and support while assessments are pending
These national changes may impact families across England and are part of NHS commissioning decisions being rolled out from April 2025.
How we can help more:
We have a number of events in April that you might be