Wirral ADHD Pathway – Right To Choose
There is currently no local service available open to referrals for assessment at this time in our region.
Referral can only be arranged via NHS Right to Choose pathway or privately.
If you wish to proceed with an NHS Right to Choose referral, please choose the provider that you wish to have assessment through (currently these are Psychiatry UK, Psychiatry 360 and Clinical Partners but this may change). You can view the NHS Right to Choose providers on this webpage.
What is Right to Choose?
In England, under the NHS, you have a legal right to choose your mental healthcare provider — including for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessments. This service is free of charge and can help Wirral patients receive ADHD or ASD support more quickly.
When selecting a Right to Choose provider for ADHD, it is vital to ensure that:
- You meet their referral criteria
- That they can prescribe medication for you, if this is something you wish to pursue.
- You are aware of their waiting times; We appreciate that you will be keen to be assessed as soon as possible, however, please do not choose a provider simply because it has the shortest waiting time – do check that it is the right service for you
To proceed with your ADHD referral, please then complete the following documentation and return them all to our admin team.
- A completed ADHD screening questionnaire from your chosen provider.
- A handwritten or typed statement with your symptoms, concerns and impact upon daily living including home, work and relationships; also include what you have tried to do to help with these symptoms and what you expect from diagnosis; please make this as detailed as possible as it will aid in your referral; inadequate information may result in your referral being rejected
- Details of your selected Right to Choose provider
- A completed referral proforma, downloaded from your chosen provider’s website if you are able to complete this.
Once your referral has been sent you will need to contact your provider to answer any queries regarding waiting times and appointments.
Please be aware that if you are diagnosed with ADHD and started on medication there will need to be a Shared Care agreement in place with you chosen provider for us to be able to take over your prescription. This would only be when you have been stabilized on medication for a period of time and you are maintaining reviews with your specialist. You will need to remain under a specialist ADHD service maintaining at least annual reviews with them for us to be able to prescribe this medication. You will need to also have your blood pressure, pulse and weight measured 6 monthly for us to be able to prescribe your medication. Any shared care agreement sent to us will be reviewed and you will be notified if we are unable to accept this.
If the provider you have selected ceases to hold an NHS contract, our shared care agreement would end and you would have to start the referral process again from the beginning.
Referral Via A School Nurse For Children
The ADHD lead for community paediatrics has confirmed to WWGP that they do not accept child ADHD referrals as they must go through the school nurse. They signpost parents to Families in Wirral – ADDvanced Solutions and adults Right to Choose – ADHD UK.
This is a step that you can discuss with your child’s GP when seeking advice about ADHD.
Useful links
Information on ADHD
- ADHD UK – Free advice and guidance on ADHD and Right to Choose referrals
- ADHD Foundation – Leading UK neurodiversity charity offering support services
- NHS Website
- Mind – ADHD and mental health resources
Information on ASD
- National Autistic Society – Support for autistic individuals and families
- Autism Speaks – Global support and inclusion resources
- NHS Website
- Mind – Autism and mental health guidance
