Template letter · Updated June 2026

NHS Right to Choose GP Letter Template

A free copy-and-use template letter to take to your GP appointment. Ask for an NHS Right to Choose referral for ADHD or autism assessment — backed by the legal basis, so your GP has everything they need to process the referral.

England only · Right to Choose does not apply in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland

This template is for patients registered with a GP in England. Before using it, find a provider using Seen Sooner and note their name and CQC registration number to fill in the letter.

What is NHS Right to Choose?

NHS Right to Choose is your legal right as a patient in England to ask your GP to refer you to any CQC-registered provider for an outpatient appointment — including ADHD and autism assessment — at no cost to you. The NHS pays for the assessment in full.

The right comes from Part 8 of the Responsibilities and Standing Rules Regulations 2012, as amended by the Health and Care Act 2022, and is restated in the NHS Constitution. NHS England patient choice guidance confirms it covers mental health and neurodevelopmental assessment. It applies to both adults and children.

Cost to you

Free

NHS-funded in full

Typical wait

Varies by area

Check your local ICB

GP referral

Required

Provider choice is yours

Before your GP appointment

To make the most of your appointment, prepare the following:

Use Seen Sooner to find a provider that accepts Right to Choose. Note their name and CQC registration number.

Write down 5–10 specific examples of how ADHD or autism symptoms affect your daily life — at work, at home, in relationships. Be concrete: "I have missed three work deadlines this month" is more useful than "I struggle to concentrate."

Bring any supporting documents — old school reports, workplace emails about performance, letters from a therapist or counsellor.

Print or save this letter and adapt the [square brackets] before your appointment.

1-Click GP Letter Builder & ICB Verifier

Use our interactive tool to verify your local Integrated Care Board (ICB) eligibility and auto-generate a fully formatted Right to Choose letter. Copy or print it to take straight to your GP appointment.

Step 1: Verify your Right to Choose eligibility

NHS Right to Choose is a legal right for patients registered with a GP in England only. Enter your postcode to verify if your region supports this pathway:

Step 2: Customise your GP letter

Patient Name

Date of Birth

NHS Number (Optional)

GP Surname / Practice Name

Chosen Right to Choose Clinic

CQC ID: 1-10058846641 · Website will be auto-filled in the letter.

Condition for Assessment

Symptom details & daily life impactBe specific: describe how it impacts your relationships, household tasks, study, or work.

Letter Preview

Dynamic output

[Patient Address] [Date] Dear Dr [GP Surname], RE: Request for NHS Right to Choose Referral for Neurodevelopmental Assessment Patient Name: [Your Name] Date of Birth: [Your Date of Birth] I am writing to formally request a referral for a neurodevelopmental assessment for ADHD under the patient choice provisions that apply in England. Patients registered with a GP in England have the right to choose which provider carries out their first outpatient appointment. This right is set out in Part 8 of the National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012, as amended, and is restated in the NHS Constitution. NHS England patient choice guidance confirms that it covers mental health and neurodevelopmental assessment services. I wish to exercise this right by choosing the following CQC-registered provider to conduct my assessment: Provider Name: Psychiatry-UK CQC Registration ID: 1-10058846641 Website: https://psychiatry-uk.com I have selected this provider because they accept NHS Right to Choose referrals, are fully registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and can offer an assessment within a wait time that is significantly shorter than the local pathway. To assist you with this referral, I have documented my primary concerns and symptoms below: "Persistent difficulties with executive functioning, focus, attention, and time management. This significantly impacts my performance at work and causes severe mental fatigue in daily life." I understand the cost of the assessment is met by my Integrated Care Board under the non-contract activity arrangements that apply to referrals made under patient choice. Could you please process this referral at your earliest convenience? Please let me know once the referral has been submitted, or if you require any additional screening forms. Yours sincerely, [Your Name]

If your GP refuses

If your GP declines your referral, take these steps:

1. Ask for the refusal in writing

Ask your GP to document the refusal and the clinical reason in writing. This creates a record and often prompts reconsideration.

2. Speak to the practice manager

If the GP refuses, request a meeting with the practice manager. Explain that you are exercising your right to choose your provider under the NHS Standing Rules, and ask for any refusal to be recorded in writing with its clinical reasons.

3. Contact your ICB complaints team

Contact the complaints or patient experience team at the ICB for your area and explain that your GP has declined a Right to Choose referral. PALS services are run by NHS trusts rather than ICBs, but they can also point you to the right route. Either can often resolve the issue without a formal complaint.

4. Submit a formal complaint

If that does not resolve it, submit a formal NHS complaint about the practice. This triggers an investigation, and the practice must respond with its reasons.

5. Change your GP

You have the right to register with a different GP. Many patients in this situation register with a second practice and request the referral there.

Common GP objections — and how to respond

"Right to Choose only applies to elective surgery, not mental health."

Patient choice applies to referrals for a first outpatient appointment, including mental health and neurodevelopmental assessment. The right is set out in Part 8 of the Responsibilities and Standing Rules Regulations 2012, as amended, and NHS England patient choice guidance confirms it covers these services.

"I can only refer you to providers within our ICB contract."

Under Right to Choose, you are not limited to ICB-contracted providers. You may be referred to any CQC-registered provider in England that is willing to accept the referral. ICB contracts are separate from the Right to Choose entitlement.

"The waiting list is long everywhere — Right to Choose won't be faster."

This may be the GP's honest opinion, but it is not grounds to refuse a referral. You are entitled to choose your provider regardless of waiting times. Right to Choose waits vary by area and provider, and some areas have minimum waits of a year or more. Check the current position with your local ICB.

"I need more evidence before I can refer you."

A GP is not required to diagnose ADHD or autism before making a referral — that is the assessment's job. A referral for assessment requires only that you have presented with relevant concerns. Bring your symptom diary and any supporting materials to demonstrate impact on daily life.

"We don't refer adults for autism assessment."

Adults are equally entitled to autism assessment as children. NHS Right to Choose applies to adults seeking autism assessment. There is no age restriction. If your GP practice has a policy against adult autism referrals, ask them to record this in writing and raise a complaint.

Frequently asked questions

Can my GP refuse a Right to Choose referral?

Deciding whether an assessment is clinically appropriate is a matter for your GP, and they can decline to refer on clinical grounds. What they cannot do is agree to refer and then restrict your choice on the grounds of local waiting times, ICB contracts or personal preference. They can also decline a specific provider that is not CQC-registered or is unwilling to accept the referral. If refused, ask for the refusal in writing with the clinical reason, then escalate to your ICB.

Does NHS Right to Choose apply to autism assessment?

Yes. NHS Right to Choose applies to all outpatient referrals in England, including autism and ADHD assessments. This was confirmed in NHS England guidance in 2022. The entitlement covers both adults and children.

Which ICB do I contact if my GP refuses?

Contact the Integrated Care Board (ICB) for your GP's area. You can find your ICB using your postcode on the NHS England website. Ask for the complaints or patient experience team.

Do I need a specific diagnosis already to request a Right to Choose referral?

No. You are requesting a referral for assessment — not confirming a diagnosis. You need only present reasonable concerns about ADHD or autism and their impact on your life. Your GP should refer you for assessment based on your concerns and history, not require you to already have a diagnosis.

Find your Right to Choose provider

Use Seen Sooner to find a CQC-registered provider near you that accepts NHS Right to Choose — get the name and registration number for your letter.

Find providers