Right to Choose for Autism: What You Need to Know

Reviewed by: Dr Darren O’Reilly

Published date: February 12, 2026

• OVERVIEW
• SYMPTOMS
• ADULTS
• CHILDREN
• WOMEN
• DIAGNOSIS
• TREATMENT
• MEDICATION

Having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) means that the way your brain works is different from how other people’s brains work. It has an impact on your behaviour and how you interact with other people. This disorder develops during childhood, and you will have it for life. For most people, signs of autism can be first observed during childhood, while others may reach adulthood before noticing that they may have the condition.

In order to determine if you have autism, you may decide to ask your doctor for a referral for an autism assessment. If you live in England, you have certain rights, such as a legal ‘Right to Choose’ who provides your healthcare, including who will perform an autism assessment for you or your child.

Our team at AuDHD Psychiatry provides expert adult ADHD and autism assessments, interventions, and coaching, following NICE guidelines and the highest clinical standards. Here, we share important information about using Right to Choose for autism in the UK to get the autism assessment and support you need.

Key Takeaways

• An autism diagnosis can only be made by a specialist autism diagnostic service.
• A diagnosis will only be given following an assessment process, which can take some time to complete.
• Patients in England can take the Right to Choose pathway for getting an autism assessment and diagnosis so they can receive the care and support they require.
• Your GP can refer you to a suitable Right to Choose NHS provider who meets your or your child’s needs for an assessment. 

What Is Right to Choose (RTC)?

Patients in England have the option to use their legal Right to Choose who provides the healthcare services they need, including autism assessments for children and adults. Your GP should offer the option for you to choose the service that will carry out the assessment. Patients can choose any provider, including NHS clinics and private providers, with an NHS commissioning contract for the services they require that are considered appropriate for the patient. Take note that ‘Right to Choose’ is not available in Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland.

GPs are required to always offer the Right to Choose before referring patients to a health service provider. They must provide information about different services and help you decide which one is the most suitable for your needs. For example, some people opt for the Right to Choose because a provider’s location could be more convenient for the patient than others, or it could mean waiting a shorter time to complete their autism assessment.

When Is Right to Choose Applicable for Individuals Seeking an Autism Assessment?

The legal Right to Choose applies in the following situations:

• A GP agrees that an autism or ADHD assessment is clinically appropriate for an individual. ‘Clinically appropriate’ means that the individual meets the correct medical, psychological, and developmental requirements based on set rules (i.e., the individual has clear signs of autism or ADHD based on official medical guides like DSM-5 or ICD-11, they have problems functioning in daily life, and there are no other reasons in their medical history that would explain their symptoms).
• A chosen provider is NHS-approved, meaning it has a contract with an NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) or NHS England to provide autism and ADHD assessments under Right to Choose.
• The individual or patient is registered with a GP in England.
• There are long NHS waiting times (over 18 weeks). This includes scenarios wherein the Right to Choose has not already been offered, and the individual is on a waiting list.

Right to Choose is not applicable for people seeking an autism or ADHD assessment if:

• An individual is already currently receiving care and treatment for their condition (note that it does apply if the individual had been treated before and requires new sessions of care).
• They are receiving emergency, urgent or crisis services.
• They require emergency or urgent services (such as cancer treatment), and they require being seen within two weeks.
• They are an active member of the armed forces.
• They are held in a hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983.
• They are a prisoner, someone temporarily released from prison, or someone being held in a special facility (such as a court, a young offender’s institution, or a secure children’s home.

How to Choose an NHS Provider for an Autism Assessment

These steps must be followed when using the Right to Choose to get an autism assessment from an NHS provider:

• If you think you or your child may have autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you must speak to your GP about getting an assessment.

• Your GP will decide if it is appropriate for you to undergo an autism or ADHD assessment.

• If they decide that you do need an assessment, your GP will talk to you about the options for provider organisations that they can refer you to. The list of providers they present to you includes private providers paid for by the NHS.

• Your GP will help you choose the best provider for your needs. Before you decide on a provider organisation, you must understand how the different providers would carry out your assessment. You need to know if the provider will carry out the assessment in person or online/remotely, and whether they will provide ongoing support or medication (only for ADHD) in the event that you or your child is diagnosed with autism or ADHD.

• Once you’ve chosen a provider, your GP will send a referral to them.

• The provider organisation will get in touch with you to arrange an assessment.

Finding Approved NHS Right To Choose Clinics 

The easiest way to find an approved NHS Right to Choose clinic is to visit the website of the national charity, ADHD UK. 

ADHD UK maintains a list of all the NHS Right to Choose clinics in England that are currently offering diagnostic assessments for autism and ADHD for children, young people and adults. The list is regularly updated and also includes the following information: 

• Each clinic’s eligibility criteria (i.e., the people who can and cannot access the clinic).
• Each clinic’s waiting list times.
• Each clinic’s ability to prescribe medication (only for ADHD).
• For clinics that can prescribe medication: whether they can initiate, titrate and prescribe ADHD medication for only a set period of time (e.g., three months), or on an ongoing basis.
• Whether the clinic runs a secondary waiting list after diagnosis for ADHD medication, and if yes, how long the medication waiting list currently is. This waiting time for medication is in addition to the time a patient has already waited for their diagnostic assessment.

For anyone considering expressing their legal Right to Choose, this information is highly crucial to their decision-making process.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Getting a Right to Choose Autism Assessment

There isn’t a cure for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) – it’s something that you have for life. But there are ways to manage the challenges that come with it. People with ASD have their individual strengths, difficulties and needs – just like anyone else. What works best for you or your child will depend on how you or they are affected by ASD.

You or your child should receive support and care from a team of ASD specialists in your local area. They should create a management plan based on your or your child’s particular needs. They should also organise care or treatments for any related health problems. These may include learning difficulties, mental health problems or problems with sleep or speech. Getting the care and support you need starts with undergoing a proper autism assessment and diagnosis, and you can receive that through the Right to Choose autism pathway. Get in touch with our team today for more information on autism assessments.

References:

Author:

Dr Darren O’Reilly

DPsych, CPsychol, HCPC Registered, Consultant Psychologist

Darren is a mental health advocate and founder of ADHDdegree. He’s passionate about making ADHD support more accessible, affordable, and stigma-free for everyone navigating neurodiversity.

Know more about his qualifications.

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