Right to Choose for ADHD in Wales
If you have read about people in England accessing an ADHD assessment through Right to Choose and wondered why it does not apply to you, this page explains why, and sets out the options available to you instead.
The short answer
Right to Choose is a legal right within the NHS in England. If your GP practice is in Wales, it does not apply to you, and your GP cannot use it to refer you to an ADHD provider in England. Your real options in Wales are an NHS referral to your health board's ADHD service, a private assessment, or both. After a private diagnosis, your GP may take over prescribing under shared care, but they are not obliged to.
What Right to Choose actually is
In England, patients have a legal right to choose which provider they are referred to for many first appointments with a specialist team. For ADHD, that has meant people in England can ask their GP to refer them to an approved provider, often online, instead of waiting for their local NHS service. The NHS in England pays for it, so the assessment is free to the patient.
It is not a private service and it is not a loophole. It is part of the rules the NHS in England sets for its own patients. That is the key to why it stops at the border.
Why it doesn't apply in Wales
Health is devolved. The NHS in Wales is run by the Welsh Government through its health boards, with its own rules, budgets and waiting lists. The choice rights in England belong to the NHS in England, so they do not carry over to NHS Wales.
What matters is which GP practice you are registered with, because that decides which NHS is responsible for your care. If you live in Wales but are registered with a GP practice in England, or the other way round, ask your practice which rules apply to you. For most people in Wales, the answer is clear: NHS Right to Choose is not an option for them.
Health policy can change, so it is advisable to check with your GP practice. At the time of writing (October 2026) it does not apply in Wales.
Your real options in Wales
| Option | How it works | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| NHS adult service | Your GP refers you to your health board's adult ADHD service. | Free. Waits vary by health board and change over time, so ask your GP practice or health board for the current position. |
| NHS children's service | Usually your child's school or your GP refers your child to the health board's children's neurodevelopmental service. | Free. Ask your GP or your child's school what the route is where you live. |
| Private assessment | You choose and pay a private provider, anywhere in the UK, online or in person. | No referral needed. Check the assessment follows NICE guideline NG87 and what happens about medication afterwards. |
| Shared care | After a private diagnosis and a stable dose, your GP may take over prescribing. | Voluntary for the GP practice. If they agree, NHS prescriptions in Wales are free. |
The options are not mutually exclusive. Some people stay on the NHS list while going private. Others go private for the assessment, then ask their GP about shared care. Our guide to private ADHD assessment in Wales lists the seven health boards and what a private assessment involves, and the shared care guide covers what Welsh GPs usually look for.
If you were using Right to Choose before moving to Wales
This situation is not always anticipated. If you started an assessment or medication through Right to Choose while registered with a GP in England, then moved and registered with a Welsh GP, ask your provider what happens next. Care paid for by the NHS in England may not continue once you are a Welsh patient.
If you already have a diagnosis, you may not need to start again. ADH-Me's Medication Titration Only package (£600) is for people with a confirmed diagnosis: our team reviews your report first to check it is detailed enough to prescribe from. If you are already settled on medication and your new GP doesn't agree to shared care, Ongoing Prescribing is £30 a month. Read more on medication titration.
What to ask a private provider
Without Right to Choose, most people in Wales who do not want to wait compare private providers. These questions give you the full picture, not just the headline price.
| Ask | Why it matters | ADH-Me's answer |
|---|---|---|
| Who will assess me, and what are their qualifications? | You want an ADHD specialist. You can check a nurse on the NMC register or a doctor on the GMC register. | Ryan Williams, ADHD Nurse Specialist and Independent Prescriber (RMN, INP) |
| Does the assessment follow NICE guideline NG87? | It is the national guidance, and GPs look for it before considering shared care. | Yes |
| Is there an objective test as well as interviews and rating scales? | It adds a measured result next to your own account. | Yes, QbCheck is included |
| Can the clinician prescribe? | If not, you may need another provider for medication. | Yes, our ADHD specialists are independent prescribers |
| What does it cost in total, including medication? | Titration, reviews and the medicine itself add up. | Assessment £895, or £1,395 with titration. See assessment costs |
| Do you work with GP practices in Wales? | Shared care is decided by your practice, guided by its health board. | Yes. Reports and letters are written to support shared care |
| What if my GP doesn't agree to shared care? | Otherwise you could be left paying privately with no plan. | Ongoing Prescribing, £30 a month |
Before you pay anyone, including us: ask your GP practice whether they consider shared care for ADHD medication started by a private specialist, and what they would need to see.
Where to start
If you are not yet sure ADHD is the right explanation, start with the free adult screening questionnaire or the child screening questionnaire. A screening questionnaire is not a diagnosis, but it helps you decide whether a full assessment is appropriate. You can see what happens in an ADHD assessment, or get in touch and we will reply personally.
Common questions
Is there a Right to Choose for ADHD in Wales?
No. Right to Choose is a legal right within the NHS in England. Health is run separately in Wales, and there is no equivalent right for people registered with a GP practice in Wales.
Can my Welsh GP refer me to a Right to Choose provider in England?
Not through Right to Choose. That route is paid for by the NHS in England for its own patients. Your GP can refer you to your health board ADHD service, or you can choose to pay for a private assessment with any provider.
I moved to Wales partway through Right to Choose care. What now?
Ask your provider promptly what happens when you register with a Welsh GP, because care funded by the NHS in England may not continue. If you already have a diagnosis, you may not need to start again: a prescriber can review your report and continue from there.
Can I stay on the NHS waiting list if I go private?
Ask your GP practice or health board. Some people keep their NHS referral open as a back-up while they go private, but the rules are set locally, so please check first.
Ready to take the first step?
Start with a free screening, or get in touch. We reply to every enquiry personally.
Prefer to talk? Call 07909 440188.