Right to Choose ADHD in Lincoln: 2026 referral guide

Every Right to Choose referral from Lincoln passes through the commissioning structure of NHS Lincolnshire ICB. Nationally, Right to Choose remains the law — but locally, several ICBs have responded to ADHD referral volumes by adding triage hubs, tightening which providers they will route to, or publishing guidance that GPs sometimes misread as a ban. None of this removes your underlying right, but it does change what you should say in the GP appointment.

Two practical checks before you book your GP slot: first, look at the ADHD or neurodevelopmental page on the NHS Lincolnshire ICB website for any current statement on Right to Choose; second, check ADHD UK's postcode-level data for reported wait times in your area. If the local NHS pathway is quoting multi-year waits — as most Lincolnshire services are — that figure is itself useful evidence when you make the case for a Right to Choose referral.

GPs near Lincoln are not the enemy. They are overwhelmed professionals handling 30+ patients per day with 10-minute appointments. When someone comes in saying 'I think I have ADHD,' the GP has to weigh this against limited clinical evidence, competing priorities, and the knowledge that the referral will land on a service already drowning in demand.

This context explains why evidence matters so much. A GP who receives a well-structured clinical letter with objective brain data, z-scores, and peer-reviewed citations can process the referral efficiently and confidently. They are not being asked to diagnose — they are being asked to refer, and the evidence makes the referral defensible.

Our GP evidence guide includes everything you need to prepare for that appointment: what to say, what to bring, how to handle pushback, and when to invoke Right to Choose explicitly. The combination of our clinical letter and this preparation makes GP refusal extremely unlikely.

Right to Choose is enshrined in the NHS Constitution under Section 3a. It gives every patient in England the legal right to choose which qualified provider carries out their first outpatient appointment — including ADHD assessment. In practice, this means your GP near Lincoln can refer you to an approved private provider, and the NHS pays the full cost.

For ADHD, the most commonly used provider is Psychiatry-UK, which has a formal partnership with NHS England. Other approved providers include Clinical Partners and selected regional clinics. The assessment follows identical NICE NG87 guidelines — clinical interview, developmental history, behavioural rating scales, and diagnostic formulation. The only difference is speed: 3–6 months instead of 2–5 years.

Right to Choose is not a loophole, a workaround, or a grey area. It is established NHS policy. Your GP cannot remove the right itself — but they can decline to refer for ADHD if they believe a referral is not clinically warranted, and some ICBs have introduced local triage steps that change how the referral routes. That is why evidence matters: objective brain data makes the clinical case impossible to dismiss.

Step 1 — Get screened. Book our comprehensive assessment (£845) which includes the clinical letter your GP needs. Same-week appointments available. You will have your report and clinical letter the same day.

Step 2 — Prepare for your GP. Read our GP appointment guide. Book a double appointment (20 minutes). Bring: the clinical letter, a completed ASRS questionnaire (adults) or Conners scale (children), written examples of functional impairment, and any old school reports showing childhood difficulties.

Step 3 — Request the referral. Tell your GP: 'I would like to exercise my Right to Choose and be referred to Psychiatry-UK for ADHD assessment.' Present your evidence pack. Key points if they hesitate: Right to Choose is a legal right under Section 3a of the NHS Constitution; Psychiatry-UK has a formal NHS England partnership; the referral process uses standard e-RS; there is no cost to the GP practice.

Step 4 — GP submits the referral. The GP submits through the NHS e-Referral Service or the provider's online form. Your screening report and clinical letter should be attached.

Step 5 — Assessment (3–6 months). The provider contacts you to schedule. Typically a 60–90 minute video assessment. They review all evidence including our brain data, conduct a clinical interview, and make a diagnostic decision. If ADHD is confirmed, medication is initiated and shared care is arranged with your GP.

The Psychiatry-UK assessor who conducts your Right to Choose assessment will review all available evidence before the appointment. Most patients arrive with questionnaires and a GP referral letter. You will arrive with those plus objective neurological data that no other patient typically brings. This does not guarantee diagnosis — that is a clinical decision based on the full picture. But it gives the assessor an additional evidence dimension that enhances the assessment quality and efficiency.

Several assessors have told clients that our reports are among the most detailed screening documents they receive. The z-scores, frequency band analysis, and Go/No-Go attention data provide a neurocognitive profile that complements the clinical interview. The assessment becomes a richer, more informed process.

A third option is fully private assessment (£700–£1,500), which has the shortest wait (2–8 weeks) but you pay the full cost. Many people from Lincoln combine approaches: brain screening (£595–£845) + Right to Choose assessment (free) + Access to Work support (free). Total out-of-pocket: the screening only. View all pricing options.

We provide Right to Choose evidence for children aged 6+, teenagers, adults, and women & girls who are systematically underdiagnosed by questionnaire-based assessment.

Each person is compared against age-matched normative data from published research. The clinical letter is tailored for Right to Choose referral submissions, with z-scores, peer-reviewed citations, and specific recommendations your GP can act on immediately.

View packages: standard screening (£595) · comprehensive (£845) · family package (£1,095) · all pricing

After your screening: ADHD support hub · results explained · what to do next · GP appointment guide · medication guide · coping strategies · workplace rights · ADHD in women · parent's guide · relationships guide · sleep guide · exercise & ADHD