Thank you for your enquiry regarding referrals for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessments.

There are currently two main NHS referral routes for ADHD and ASD assessments:

1. Local NHS Services
2. NHS Right to Choose Providers

For children and young people aged 5 to 18 years, information about local referral pathways for ADHD and Autism assessments in Suffolk can be found online at:

East and West Suffolk – Suffolk SEND Local Offer
https://www.suffolklocaloffer.org.uk

Adults may be referred via the standard NHS referral route to local NHS services.*

NHS Right to Choose

In certain circumstances, patients and parents/carers in England have a legal Right to Choose their healthcare provider for an ADHD and/or ASD assessment.

Eligibility Criteria

To access the Right to Choose pathway:

• The patient must be registered with a GP practice in England.
• The patient must not already be undergoing an active ADHD or ASD assessment with another provider.
• The chosen provider must hold an NHS contract to provide services under the Right to Choose scheme.

Choosing a Provider

If you wish to pursue a Right to Choose referral, you will first need to research and select a suitable provider. GP practices are unable to recommend specific providers.

There is a wide range of information available online. The ADHD UK website contains helpful information about the Right to Choose process and lists a number of providers.

What You Need to Do

Local NHS Services*

If you would like to be referred via the local NHS service, please email the practice secretaries directly at hwh.secretaries@nhs.net, who will be able to send you the appropriate referral paperwork.

NHS Right to Choose Providers

Once you have chosen a provider:

1. Visit the provider's website and download the relevant Right to Choose referral forms.
2. Complete any required parent, carer, or patient pre-assessment questionnaires.
3. Forward the completed referral paperwork to the practice secretaries at hwh.secretaries@nhs.net, or alternatively drop the forms into any of our GP surgeries.

You do not need a GP appointment to discuss the referral. Our secretaries will liaise with your GP and submit the referral to your chosen provider. We will contact you if any additional information is required.

Please be aware that incomplete forms may delay the referral process.

Important Information Regarding ADHD Medication

Please note that the Practice is unable to enter into Shared Care Agreements for the ongoing prescribing and monitoring of ADHD medication.

If you are considering a Right to Choose referral for ADHD assessment, it is important to take this into account when selecting a provider. Not all providers offer medication titration and ongoing prescribing services following diagnosis.

We recommend that you check the services offered by your chosen provider, including their arrangements for medication prescribing and follow-up care, before requesting a referral.